Pocahontas County is currently experiencing a surge of COVID-19 unlike anything the county has seen during the pandemic.
On Monday, Nov. 30, the Pocahontas County Health Department took to social media with the following statement:
“With a heavy heart we are reporting that Pocahontas County has its first COVID related death. Please keep the individual’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Currently, Pocahontas County reports 231 total cases, 129 active cases, 101 recovered cases and one death. At 58.90%, the county’s infection rate has climbed more than 30% in the last seven days. The percent positive in Pocahontas County is now 5.37%.
Summers County remains designated as green on both the education and DHHR color-coded county maps. However, COVID-19 continues to spread there, as well.
“Summers County Health Department officials have identified seven new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days. Four cases are laboratory confirmed PCR tests and three are rapid tests. These cases are linked to community spread and workplace outbreak,” the SCHD stated through a social media post of their own.
In Summers County, there are 256 confirmed cases, 24 probable cases, 84 active cases, 186 recovered cases, seven current hospitalized cases and 10 deaths. Summers County’s infection rate is 23.29% and their percent positive is 2.25%.
On Tuesday, Dec. 1, the W.Va. DHHR reported that another 23 West Virginians have succumbed to complications stemming from COVID-19.
Among those confirmed deceased are a 99-year-old Marshall County man, a 72-year-old Fayette County man, a 91-year-old Harrison County man, an 81-year-old Wood County man, an 88-year-old Raleigh County man, an 82-year-old Kanawha County woman, a 65-year-old Cabell County man, a 59-year-old Mercer County woman, a 90-year-old Pocahontas County woman, a 69-year-old Mercer County woman, a 77-year-old Harrison County man, a 55-year-old Harrison County woman, a 60-year-old Boone County man, a 76-year-old Lincoln County woman, a 68-year-old Berkeley County man, a 66-year-old Wyoming County woman, a 79-year-old Berkeley County woman, an 80-year-old Hancock County woman, a 92-year-old Ritchie County woman, a 74-year-old Mineral County man, an 83-year-old Mineral County woman, a 77-year-old Mineral County man and a 73-year-old Lincoln County man.
The total number of deaths in West Virginia attributed to COVID-19 is now 758.
“As we solemnly observe the passing of more state residents and extend our sincere sympathies to their loved ones, now, more than ever, we must not relax on our preventative measures. These actions help ensure the health and safety of our fellow West Virginians,” Cabinet Secretary Bill Crouch said in a statement posted on the DHHR’s website.
Despite Crouch’s statements, and even though they come with the near unanimous support of the worldwide medical community, West Virginia remains divided on the idea of utilizing face coverings. Many of those opposed to their use have argued that face coverings do not work, and can potentially lead to other health concerns.
According to the University of Maryland Medical System, these arguments are flawed.
“Though wearing a mask is one of the most important things you can do to prevent coronavirus infection, there are still many misunderstandings about (it),” it states on the university’s website.
One such misunderstanding is that “cloth masks don’t protect you.”
According to the university, “Cloth face masks are effective. They create a barrier between your mouth and nose and those around you. This makes it more difficult for the droplets that spread coronavirus through coughs, sneezes and talking to reach other people. Different types of masks serve different purposes, but cloth masks are highly effective for the general public. The average person who is not working in a medical environment with COVID-19 patients should wear a cloth mask to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical workers.”
Another common misconception is that, “masks can cause carbon dioxide build-up.”
The university further states, “Some people have suggested that carbon dioxide from exhaling gets trapped under the cloth and can make you sick. This isn’t true. Properly fitted masks offer adequate airflow while still covering your nose and mouth. This makes the accumulation of carbon dioxide impossible.”
The University of Maryland Medical System does go on to say, “people with breathing problems, children under age 2, and those who can’t remove the mask without assistance should not wear one.”
Within the last 24 hours, 976 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified across West Virginia, bringing the state’s total number of active cases to 16,921. The daily positivity-rate is 6.07% and the cumulative positivity-rate is 3.67%.
At present, there are 595 West Virginians hospitalized due to COVID-19, 166 of whom are receiving care in the ICU, with 81 individuals being treated with ventilators. The W.Va. DHHR reports that 31,139 of those infected with the virus have since recovered.
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