More than 5,000 West Virginians have now died from COVID-19

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources announced Tuesday that 8,249 cases of COVID-19 are currently active in the Mountain State. That’s an increase of 218 since the last report.

Locally, COVID-19 cases are active in Upshur (92), Barbour (58), Lewis (142), Randolph (94) and Webster (40) counties. In Upshur County, that’s a decrease of one active case in the last 24 hours.

Thirty-one additional deaths have been attributed to the disease, according to the DHHR – a 62-year old female from Lincoln County, a 64-year old male from Hampshire County, a 58-year old female from Cabell County, a 68-year old male from Berkeley County, a 64-year old female from Putnam County, an 87-year old female from Jefferson County, a 46-year old male from Taylor County, a 44-year old male from Hardy County, a 21-year old male from Lewis County, a 56-year old female from Randolph County, a 75-year old male from Roane County, a 62-year old male from Mercer County, a 74-year old male from Marshall County, a 67-year old female from Greenbrier County, a 74-year old male from Clay County, a 55-year old male from Taylor County, a 93-year old male from Calhoun County, a 71-year old female from Kanawha County, a 79-year old female from Fayette County, a 70-year old female from Kanawha County, a 48-year old male from Kanawha County, a 74-year old male from Wetzel County, a 56-year old female from Marion County, a 61-year old male from Marion County, a 73-year old male from Wyoming County, an 84-year old female from Fayette County, a 69-year old female from Roane County, an 86-year old male from Mingo County, a 61-year old male from Wood County, a 73-year old male from Braxton County, and a 75-year old female from Grant County.

“We join the families in mourning the passing of these West Virginians,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “Make the decision today to protect yourself, your family and your community by receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.”

About 595 residents are hospitalized with the virus (77% unvaccinated, 23% vaccinated), with 206 currently in intensive care (84% unvaccinated, 16% vaccinated) and 111 on a ventilator (84% unvaccinated, 16% vaccinated). The daily percent positive was 11.12%.

“The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of December 7, 2021, there are currently 8,249 active COVID-19 cases statewide. There have been 31 deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 5,021 deaths attributed to COVID-19,” according to a press release.

A total of 900,909 people have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in West Virginia, the DHHR said.  That’s about 50% of the state.

CURRENT ACTIVE CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (58), Berkeley (763), Boone (83), Braxton (47), Brooke (115), Cabell (359), Calhoun (36), Clay (32), Doddridge (18), Fayette (237), Gilmer (17), Grant (83), Greenbrier (102), Hampshire (109), Hancock (132), Hardy (66), Harrison (318), Jackson (82), Jefferson (372), Kanawha (573), Lewis (142), Lincoln (68), Logan (148), Marion (267), Marshall (123), Mason (92), McDowell (108), Mercer (399), Mineral (147), Mingo (154), Monongalia (303), Monroe (60), Morgan (110), Nicholas (220), Ohio (248), Pendleton (33), Pleasants (37), Pocahontas (12), Preston (129), Putnam (232), Raleigh (354), Randolph (94), Ritchie (44), Roane (69), Summers (34), Taylor (82), Tucker (20), Tyler (31), Upshur (92), Wayne (166), Webster (40), Wetzel (94), Wirt (27), Wood (379), Wyoming (89).