The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources announced Friday that 126 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the Mountain State.
One additional death has been attributed to the disease, according to the DHHR – an 84-year old male from Cabell County. That marks the 100th death in West Virginia since the pandemic began.
“The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reports as of 5 p.m., on July 17, 2020, there have been 222,427 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 4,783 total cases and 100 deaths,” according to a press release.
While no new cases were reported in Upshur County on Friday, the medical director for the Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department advised local residents that they should avoid businesses and events where health guidelines are not being followed.
“Upshur County is very fortunate that our COVID 19 cases are low,” Dr. Joseph B. Reed wrote in a release. “We want our businesses and schools to open and stay open, so it is critical that all citizens follow the advice and guidance of the governor and health professionals.
“To protect yourself and our community, the Upshur-Buckhannon Board of Health, along with our medical director, Joseph Reed, MD, recommends avoiding businesses and situations that choose to not follow COVID-19 orders, guidance and advice, including the use of face coverings and physical distancing. This is for your safety and the safety of others.”
The nurse director of the health department, Sue McKisic, also addressed the delay some are experiencing obtaining results from last weekend’s free testing.
“I am writing this as I know many of you are awaiting COVID-19 test results from the testing last Friday and Saturday, July 10-11,” writes McKisic. “We, along with you, are frustrated as you have not yet received your results. We were told that all test results would be available no later that Wednesday, July 15. We have been in contact with Qlabs daily and were told that several other counties had testing that same weekend, and the lab is doing everything it can to keep up.”
As new COVID-19 cases have surged nationally, testing has struggled to keep up, with many areas of the country reporting delays of 10 days or more obtaining results. A fast turnaround time helps identify cases quickly so patients can be quarantined before spreading the virus to others.
Statewide, hospitalizations continue to rise sharply. Thirty-seven patients are now in intensive care, according to the DHHR. That number was as low as just three people less than a month ago.
New cases were reported Friday in Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mercer, Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Ohio, Pendleton, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel and Wood counties.
About 1,416 West Virginia cases remain active, according DHHR data. Of the cases that are no longer active, 3,267 people have recovered and 100 have died.
CASES PER COUNTY (Case confirmed by lab test/Probable case): Barbour (24/0), Berkeley (539/19), Boone (53/0), Braxton (6/0), Brooke (35/1), Cabell (207/7), Calhoun (4/0), Clay (15/0), Fayette (98/0), Gilmer (13/0), Grant (21/1), Greenbrier (76/0), Hampshire (46/0), Hancock (51/3), Hardy (48/1), Harrison (133/1), Jackson (149/0), Jefferson (262/5), Kanawha (472/12), Lewis (24/1), Lincoln (19/0), Logan (42/0), Marion (124/3), Marshall (77/1), Mason (26/0), McDowell (12/0), Mercer (68/0), Mineral (69/2), Mingo (48/2), Monongalia (654/15), Monroe (14/1), Morgan (19/1), Nicholas (19/1), Ohio (173/0), Pendleton (18/1), Pleasants (4/1), Pocahontas (37/1), Preston (90/24), Putnam (99/1), Raleigh (92/3), Randolph (196/2), Ritchie (3/0), Roane (12/0), Summers (2/0), Taylor (26/1), Tucker (7/0), Tyler (10/0), Upshur (31/2), Wayne (144/2), Webster (2/0), Wetzel (40/0), Wirt (6/0), Wood (192/10), Wyoming (7/0).
