The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reported that two-more residents have succumbed to complications stemming to COVID-19.
On Tuesday, September 22, both of the confirmed deceased were residents of Kanawha County: a 91-year old female, and an 80-year old male.
In a statement posted on the DHHR website, Cabinet Secretary Bill Crouch said: “The continued loss of West Virginia lives weighs heavily on all of us, with the greatest sadness borne by family and friends.”
West Virginia has now recorded 319 total deaths due to the virus.
There are currently 3,464 active cases across the state, with 120 new cases having been identified within the last 24-hours. At 2.75%, the cumulative positivity-rate is up slightly from the previous day’s 2.75%. However, the daily positivity-rate has seen a significant decrease over the past 24-hours, going from 4.78% down to 3.35%. 163 people are presently hospitalized with the coronavirus, 61 of whom remain in the ICU, while 31 are being assisted with ventilators. 10,721 infected individuals have since recovered.
The 2,926 COVID-19 tests that were performed on Tuesday represent the fewest completed in the past 7-days. West Virginia’s current 7-day average of 4,626 is significantly lower than the 7,500 per-day that the W.Va. National Guard has strongly recommended.
“You can’t imagine how difficult it is for me to read these names. But it’s only a fraction of what these families are going through. Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers,” Justice said at his Wednesday, September 23, press briefing.
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