The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has reported the identification of an additional 1,118 cases of COVID-19, marking the second consecutive day in which new cases totaled more than 1,000 across the state. There were 18,428 laboratory tests performed on Friday, November 20, bringing the seven-day average to 13,716. A total of 1,008,036 COVID-19 tests have now been administered in West Virginia, accounting for 55.664% of the state’s population.
The DHHR also reported the deaths of 19 additional West Virginians. Among those confirmed deceased are a 61-year old Fayette County man, a 74-year-old Summers County man, a 66-year-old Logan County man, a 90-year-old Nicolas County man, an 80-year-old Marshall County man, an 80-year-old Cabell County woman, a 79-year-old Cabell County man, an 89-year-old Cabell County man, a 62-year-old Wood County man, a 63-year-old Harrison County man, a 91-year old Harrison County woman, an 85-year-old Kanawha County man, an 85-year-old Kanawha County man, a 92-year-old Harrison County woman, a 69-year-old Mason County woman, an 83-year-old Putnam County man, an 85-year old Mason County woman, a 96-year old Wetzel County man and an 88-year old Morgan County man.
In a statement released on the DHHR website, Cabinet Secretary Bill Crouch said, “As we extend our deepest sympathies to the loved ones, we also encourage West Virginians to recognize the continued need to take every possible step to slow the spread of this disease.”
The total number of deaths in West Virginia attributed to complications stemming from COVID-19 has now reached 658.
In Fayette County, free COVID-19 testing is available every Tuesday at the J.W. and Hazel Ruby WV Welcome Center, located at 55 Hazel Ruby Lane in Mt. Hope, testing hours are from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.; In Mercer County, free testing is available at the following Bluestone Health Association, Inc. locations: Bluestone Medical Center, 324 Oakvale Rd. in Princeton, Bluestone Health Center, 3997 Beckley Rd. in Princeton, Prudich Medical Center, 10001 Simmons River Rd. in Montcalm, Bluefield Family Practice, 3016 E. Cumberland Road in Bluefield, Southern Bluestone Health Center, 200 12th St. in Princeton, and Bluestone Primary Care, 106 Thorn St. in Princeton, testing hours for all locations are Monday through Friday, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The following Walgreens locations are also offering free drive-thru pharmacy testing: 1201 Main St. E. in Oak Hill, 1250 Kanawha Ave. in Rainelle, 513 Stokes Dr. in Hinton, 19258 Seneca Trail in Marlinton, 4248 Coal Heritage Rd. in Bluefield, and 323 South Walker St. in Princeton. Pre-registration is required for COVID-19 testing at all Walgreens locations.
According to the DHHR, West Virginia’s cumulative positivity-rate is 3.45%. With the identification of the 1,118 new cases, the daily positivity-rate is 4.80%. There have been 39,958 cases of COVID-19 in West Virginia since the onset of the pandemic, 12,775 of which are active at this time. 416 residents are currently hospitalized with the coronavirus, 121 of whom are being cared for in the ICU. 54 of those infected are being treated with ventilators. 26,165 individuals have reportedly recovered.
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