The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reports that there have been six additional deaths statewide attributed to COVID-19 within the last 24-hours.
Among those confirmed deceased are an 83-year-old Mercer County woman, a 61-year-old Raleigh County woman, an 88-year-old Cabell County woman, a 75-year-old Gilmer County man, an 87-year-old Logan County woman and a 60-year-old Fayette County man.
In total, 2,254 West Virginians have now succumbed to complications stemming from COVID-19.
In a statement posted to the DHHR website, Cabinet Secretary Bill Crouch said, Every life lost to this deadly virus leaves a hole in a family, a community and our state. I offer my deepest sympathies to all who are mourning a loved one today.”
Despite the additional deaths reported on Saturday, February 20, the statewide-spread of COVID-19 has slowed considerably over the past six-weeks. This downward-trend prompted Governor Jim Justice to announce the signing of three executive orders designed to lessen current guidelines imposed upon businesses and schools.
“We’ve (the state’s pandemic leadership team) been in a bunch of discussions regarding some ideas to lessen restrictions on our businesses and on our schools so we can move forward,” Justice said during his Friday, February 19 coronavirus response media-briefing. “I think we can move in that direction now.”
Mask coverings will still be required under the governor’s new executive orders. However, occupancy limits for restaurants, bars and retail stores have been raised.
Justice also called upon the State Board of Education to mandate that all K through eighth-grade students return to in-person learning five-days per week.
The 309 new cases of COVID-19 identified yielded a Saturday daily positivity-rate of 2.96%. West Virginia’s cumulative positivity-rate is 5.52%. In total, 9,136 cases of the virus remain active across the state, and 163,208 residents have been fully vaccinated thus far.
With an infection rate of 16.68% and percent positive of 2.97%, Monroe County has been downgraded to green on the DHHR’s daily color-coded County Alert System map. Both Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties remain designated as green, as well.
At present, 292 West Virginians are hospitalized with COVID-19, including 77 who are receiving treatment in area intensive care units and 42 who are being assisted through ventilators. The W.Va. DHHR reports that 117,974 residents who had previously been infected with the virus have since recovered.
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