For the first time in many weeks, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, on Monday, March 1, reports that there have been no confirmed COVID-19-related deaths within the last 24-hours.
However, 193-new cases of the virus have been identified, bringing the state’s total number of active cases to 6.997. The 4,259 laboratory COVID-19 tests performed on Sunday, Feb. 28 bring West Virginia’s seven-day testing average to 9,007 tests per day. The daily positivity-rate is 4.39% and the cumulative positivity-rate is 5.46%. Thus far, 197,756 West Virginians have been fully vaccinated against the virus, while 298,942 residents are awaiting their second dose.
On Saturday, Feb. 27, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to pharmaceutical-manufacturer Johnson & Johnson for their one-shot COVID-19 vaccine, making it the third vaccine approved for use in the battle against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
During his Monday, March 1 coronavirus response media-briefing, Gov. Jim Justice said, “We anticipate receiving approximately 15,500 doses for our first shipment this week. And then we are also receiving 24,100 doses of Moderna and 36,270 doses of Pfizer this week. That total coming to West Virginia, we anticipate, are 92,770 vaccines.”
Justice clarified that the 92,770 includes both first and second doses.
In Pocahontas County, 3,749 residents have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, accounting for 45.5% of the county’s population. However, with an infection rate of 16.46% and a percent positive of 4.91%, Pocahontas remains designated as gold on the DHHR’s daily color-coded County Alert System map. Testing-turnout within Pocahontas County remains low, as well. The 12 laboratory tests performed by county health officials on Sunday, Feb. 28 bring the county’s seven-day testing average to 30-tests per day.
In Greenbrier County, 11,272 residents have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, accounting for 32.5% of the county’s population. With an infection rate of 23.49% and a percent positive of 4.76%, Greenbrier County also remains designated as gold. There are currently 172-active cases of COVID-19 reported in Greenbrier County.
In Monroe County, 4,513 residents have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, accounting for 34.0% of the county’s population. With an infection rate of 10.22% and a percent positive of 1.99%, Monroe County is designated as green on the DHHR’s County Alert System map. Monroe County’s daily positivity-rate is 4.39%.
The vaccination effort continues across West Virginia. This week’s county vaccination clinics are scheduled as follows:
Thursday, March 4, in Greenbrier County at the Rainelle Medical Center, located at 176 Medical Center Drive in Rainelle. Vaccination hours will be from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
In Monroe County, at the Church of God Fellowship Center, located at 96 Bud Ridge Road in Union. Vaccination hours will be from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
It should be noted that clinics are by appointment only, using preregistration data. All appointments are reported scheduled at this time.
At present, 225 West Virginians are hospitalized with COVID-19, including the 59 who are being treated in area intensive care units, and the 30 who are being assisted through ventilators. The W.Va. DHHR reports that 122,751 residents who had previously tested positive for the virus have since recovered.
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