An additional 3,522 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in West Virginia during the three-day period from Friday, Dec. 11, to Sunday Dec. 13. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources also reports that there have been 47 COVID-19-related deaths.
Among those confirmed to be deceased are an 85-year-old Greenbrier County woman, a 101-year-old Wyoming County woman, a 76-year-old Jefferson County man, a 74-year-old Hampshire County woman, a 97-year-old Preston County man, a 69-year-old Ohio County man, an 82-year-old Ohio County woman, a 91-year-old Ohio County woman, a 90-year-old Ohio County man, an 86-year-old Mineral County man, a 93-year-old Nicholas County woman, a 69-year-old Ohio County woman, an 84-year-old Kanawha County woman, a 77-year-old Mineral County man, a 95-year-old Mineral County woman, a 61-year-old Mineral County man, an 82-year-old Cabell County woman, a 95-year-old Putnam County man, a 77-year-old Greenbrier County man, a 75-year-old McDowell County woman, a 95-year-old Mason County woman, a 61-year-old Mason County woman, a 66-year-old Mineral County woman, a 101-year-old Mineral County woman, a 96-year-old Mineral County man, a 98-year-old Mineral County woman, a 79-year-old Mingo County man, a 64-year-old Wood County man, a 67-year-old Mineral County man, an 82-year-old Cabell County man, a 75-year-old Grant County woman, a 61-year-old Putnam County woman, a 90-year-old Marshall County woman, a 91-year-old Boone County man, a 77-year-old Putnam County man, a 93-year-old Kanawha County man, an 82-year-old Brooke County man, an 81-year-old Wood County woman, a 76-year-old Ritchie County woman, an 86-year-old Lincoln County woman, an 85-year-old Cabell County man, an 80-year-old Grant County man, a 91-year-old Kanawha County man, an 89-year-old Logan County man, a 69-year-old Greenbrier County man and a 66-year-old Cabell County man.
The total number of deaths across West Virginia attributed to complications of COVID-19 have now reached 968.
Between Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12, 28,896 laboratory tests were performed. A total of 1,312,273 tests have been performed since the onset of the pandemic, and West Virginia’s seven-day testing average is 13,928. As of Sunday, Dec. 13, the daily positivity-rate is 5.58% and the cumulative positivity-rate is 4.06%.
Although still designated as orange, Pocahontas County is beginning to see a slight decrease in both infection rate and percent positive; now down to 67.56% and 6.12% respectively. An active outbreak is currently reported at the Pocahontas Center, with 38 residents and 15 staff-members testing positive for the virus. The Pocahontas Center reports one COVID-19-related death. Pocahontas County continues to struggle with testing turn-out, only averaging 44 tests per day over the last seven-days.
Conversely, Greenbrier County is experiencing a surge. Now designated as orange, Greenbrier County’s infection rate has climbed to 89.44%, and their percent positive is now 6.91%. Outbreaks have been reported at the Lewisburg Center, (Stonerise Lewisburg) Meadow Garden, (Stonerise Rainelle) and the White Sulphur Springs Center. Between the three locations, 55 residents and 22 staff-members have tested positive for the virus. The Lewisburg Center reports there have been two COVID-19-related deaths. Greenbrier County’s seven-day testing average is 315 tests per day.
Monroe County has remained consistent over the past several weeks. Still designated as yellow, Monroe’s infection rate is 50.04% and their percent positive is 3.93%. An active outbreak has been reported at the Springfield Center. (Stonerise Lindside) At this time, one staff-member has tested positive for the virus and there have been a total of seven COVID-19-related deaths. Monroe County’s seven-day testing average has dropped slightly, and is now 138 tests per day.
In an emotion-fueled post on social media, officials from the Town of Alderson said, “It’s time to stop being selfish, ignorant and disrespectful! If you haven’t realized it by now, most of this — the mask, the testing and quarantine is about everyone, not just you.
“It’s your right to believe and act however you wish. No one is trying to take that away. God let’s us do whatever we do, but one day we answer for our choices. Same is true with this pandemic. Most people don’t get concerned until it kills their loved one.
“It affects us all differently. Be respectful of your loved ones if you don’t care about anything else. Wear your mask! Stay home if you have been exposed or are sick! Go get tested and follow the health department guidelines if you are positive! It is free, painless and takes ten minutes!!!”
At present, there are 702 West Virginians hospitalized with COVID-19, 188 of whom are receiving care in the intensive care unit, an 70 are being treated with ventilators. According to the W.Va. DHHR, 40,862 of those previously infected with the virus have since recovered.
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