West Virginia has now surpassed 5,000 COVID-19-related deaths. As of Sunday, December 12, the Department of Health and Human Resources reports that there have been 307,432 confirmed cases of the virus within the state since the onset of the pandemic, 8,820 of which are currently active. An additional 880 cases have been identified since last Thursday, December 9, as well as 30 deaths.
Among those confirmed deceased are a 61-year old male from Nicholas County, a 70-year old female from Preston County, a 75-year old male from Berkeley County, an 82-year old female from Ohio County, a 71-year old female from Jackson County, a 94-year old female from Ohio County, a 72-year old male from Mason County, a 78-year old male from Marion County, a 73-year old male from Raleigh County, a 64-year old female from Preston County, a 67-year old female from Hampshire County, a 72-year old female from Fayette County, an 80-year old male from Ohio County, a 48-year old male from McDowell County, a 37-year old male from McDowell County, a 70-year old male from Kanawha County, a 62-year old male from Mineral County, an 89-year old female from Summers County, a 91-year old female from Brooke County, a 69-year old male from Morgan County, an 82-year old male from Kanawha County, a 72-year old female from Kanawha County, a 66-year old male from Wyoming County, an 83-year old male from Wyoming County, a 72-year old male from Monongalia County, a 53-year old male from Ritchie County, a 65-year old male from Putnam County, a 69-year old male from Mercer County, a 37-year old male from Randolph County, and a 63-year old male from Wyoming County.
During his Thursday coronavirus response media-briefing, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice again stressed the urgent need for vaccinations and booster shots.
“There can’t be anything more important in your life right now than getting the booster shot,” Justice said. “What in the world are you waiting for? Absolutely without any question you need to get your booster shot now.”
According to a statement released on Friday from Governor Justice’s office: “Impending cold weather will increase the importance of being vaccinated and receiving a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Because cold weather often forces people to spend more time indoors, specifically during the busy holiday season, the state is likely to continue experiencing an increase in COVID-19 case numbers. This increase will place an even greater strain on hospitals and ICU units across West Virginia.”
As of Sunday, West Virginia’s daily positivity-percentage was 9.30%, and the state’s cumulative positivity-percentage was 6.31%.
In Greenbrier County, the infection rate is 42.45%, while the percent positivity is 6.57. In Monroe County, those numbers are 36.59 and 5.24 respectively. In Pocahontas County, at 6.93 and 1.55, the numbers are considerably better than surrounding counties.
Greenbrier County has administered 19,680 doses of the COVID-19 vaccination, accounting for 56.8% of the population. Monroe County health officials have administered a total of 5.899 doses, covering 44.4% of the population. And in Pocahontas County, 4,515 doses of the vaccine have been administered, accounting for 54.7% of the population.
At present, 610 West Virginians are hospitalized with COVID-19, 203 of whom are receiving treatment within the state’s intensive care units. Currently, 113 residents are being assisted with ventilators.
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