The continuing spread of COVID-19 has made the long holiday-weekend particularly difficult for many West Virginians. Between Thursday, November 26 and Sunday, November 29, 3,947 new cases of the coronavirus have been identified across the state.
The W.Va. DHHR has also reported the deaths of 34 residents throughout the four-day period. Among those confirmed deceased are a 79-year-old Berkeley County man, a 50-year-old Mason County man, an 89-year-old Jefferson County woman, a 69-year-old Cabell County man, an 86-year-old Kanawha County woman, a 74-year-old Putnam County woman, a 75-year-old Taylor County man, an 85-year-old Marshall County woman, a 57-year-old Raleigh County man, an 81-year-old Mineral County woman, a 47-year-old Wyoming County woman, a 70-year-old Marshall County man, a 98-year-old Cabell County man, a 69-year-old Preston County man, a 57-year-old Jackson County man, an 85-year-old Cabell County woman, a 68-year-old Doddridge County man, a 77-year-old Cabell County man, a 72-year-old Wood County man, a 92-year-old Harrison County man, a 74-year-old Hampshire County woman, a 79-year-old Preston County man, an 87-year-old Preston County man, a 49-year-old Harrison County woman, a 73-year-old Kanawha County man, a 47-year-old Kanawha County woman, a 79-year-old Kanawha County man, an 82-year-old Kanawha County man, a 91-year-old Cabell County man, a 97-year-old Putnam County man, a 68-year-old Wood County man, a 97-year-old Greenbrier County woman, a 97-year-old Mineral County woman and an 84-year-old Marion County man.
The total number of deaths in West Virginia due to complications of COVID-19 is now 729.
In a message posted on the DHHR’s website, Cabinet Secretary Bill Crouch said, “The loss of life weighs heavily not only on families and friends, but also on the healthcare workers responding to the deadly virus. Our hearts break with one another, and we must work to stop the spread of this virus so that we can heal together.”
There have been 49,997 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, 16,370 of which are currently active. A total of 1,122,438 laboratory tests have been performed statewide, including the 43,304 conducted between Thursday, November 26 and Saturday, November 28. West Virginia’s seven-day testing average is 14,346. The daily positivity-rate is 4.79% and the cumulative positivity-rate is 3.61%.
Greenbrier, Mercer and Summers Counties remain green on the DHHR’s daily color-coded county map, while Monroe County is still designated as yellow. Pocahontas County was upgraded to orange last week. At 53.70%, the infection rate continues to rise. Pocahontas County’s percent positive is now at 6.22%. Fayette County has also been upgraded by the DHHR. The county is now designated as gold. Fayette County’s infection rate is 37.06%, while their percent positive is 4.01%.
Between Thursday, November 26 and Saturday, November 28, Mercer County has completed 1,528 laboratory COVID-19 tests, identifying 28 confirmed, and 20 probable cases of the virus. Summers County has completed 374 tests, identifying five confirmed, and one probable case. Fayette County has completed 1,067 tests, identifying 46 confirmed, and 17 probable cases. Greenbrier County has completed 1,284 tests, identifying 28 confirmed, and 38 probable cases. Monroe County has completed 296 tests, identifying 10 confirmed, and four probable cases. Pocahontas County has completed 167 tests, identifying five confirmed, and 15 probable cases.
At present, there are 556 West Virginians hospitalized with COVID-19, 165 of whom are being cared for in the ICU, while 74 are receiving treatment through ventilators. The DHHR reports that 29,898 individuals previously infected with the virus have since recovered.
In a post on social media, state Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad said, “Hope and kindness can keep us strong and weather us through these next few months. Do not take for granted how far we have come and what lies ahead. Or all of the work that has been done.”
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