All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

COVID-19 cases continue to surge in West Virginia as deaths, hospitalizations mount

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources announced Thursday that 402 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the Mountain State.

Seven additional deaths have been attributed to the disease, according to the DHHR – an 82-year old female from Kanawha County, a 71-year old female from Wetzel County, a 73-year old female from Wetzel County, a 66-year old female from Wetzel County, a 66-year old female from Wetzel County, a 74-year old female from Berkeley County, and a 70-year old male from Kanawha County.

“Today is a difficult day in our fight against COVID-19,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary.

Over the last seven days, West Virginia is averaging about 350 new cases per day. That’s nearly double what the state was reporting just weeks ago. Hospitalizations are also at record levels after rising sharply over the last 10 days.

In Upshur County, the DHHR report Thursday removed three probable cases from Oct. 26 and two probable cases from Oct. 27. It also removed a confirmed case from Oct. 27. The report added eight cases to Oct. 28 — five probable and three confirmed — for a net increase of two cases.

Upshur and Barbour counties both moved to gold on the daily alert map. The only thing keeping Upshur County from being orange are the large number of probable cases, which do not count toward the positivity percentage. If those were included, Upshur County currently would be orange, approaching red.

Regardless of color, Upshur County schools are closed to students until at least Nov. 4 due to an outbreak in the transportation department.

A total of 49 cases are active in Upshur County, according to the DHHR. Thirty-five new cases have been reported in the last seven days.

“The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reports as of 10 a.m., October 29, 2020, there have been 757,923 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 23,466 total cases and 443 deaths,” according to a press release.

New cases were reported Thursday in Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Fayette, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer, Mineral, Mingo, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Ritchie, Roane, Summers, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wood and Wyoming counties.

About 4,747 West Virginia cases remain active, according DHHR data. Of the cases that are no longer active, 18,276 people have recovered and 443 have died. The daily percent positive was 2.97%.

CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (185), Berkeley (1615), Boone (381), Braxton (67), Brooke (237), Cabell (1453), Calhoun (36), Clay (64), Doddridge (71), Fayette (786), Gilmer (64), Grant (194), Greenbrier (200), Hampshire (133), Hancock (224), Hardy (107), Harrison (660), Jackson (388), Jefferson (603), Kanawha (3683), Lewis (94), Lincoln (253), Logan (770), Marion (391), Marshall (341), Mason (178), McDowell (126), Mercer (762), Mineral (223), Mingo (609), Monongalia (2316), Monroe (257), Morgan (151), Nicholas (188), Ohio (560), Pendleton (77), Pleasants (30), Pocahontas (70), Preston (200), Putnam (884), Raleigh (825), Randolph (419), Ritchie (41), Roane (111), Summers (119), Taylor (168), Tucker (64), Tyler (35), Upshur (265), Wayne (595), Webster (32), Wetzel (183), Wirt (53), Wood (616), Wyoming (309).

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Joshua Bowers joins Buckhannon Fire Department as new paid firefighter

Joshua Bowers was sworn in as Buckhannon Fire Department’s newest paid firefighter at the Dec. 18 city council meeting, with Mayor Robbie Skinner administering the oath and his wife Grace pinning his badge.

First Holiday Furtastic Elimination Dinner raises nearly $8,500 for animal rescue organizations

The first Holiday Furtastic Elimination Dinner raised nearly $8,500 for local animal rescue groups and the Buckhannon Dog Park.

Ronald Earl “Ronnie” Grall Sr.

Ronald Earl “Ronnie” Grall Sr., 83, of Buckhannon, a 2006 Sago Mine Disaster survivor and former coal mine fire boss, died December 29, 2025; he is survived by his wife Helen, five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Upshur County Sports Calendar

Upshur County sports schedule runs Dec. 29–Jan. 4 with multiple Buckhannon-Upshur basketball games in winter classics and out-of-state tournaments, wrestling entries in Powerade and regional meets, and a Mohawk Invitational swim.

WVWC’s Witt named MEC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week

West Virginia Wesleyan senior Emma Witt and Concord’s Alexis Frazee were named co–MEC Women’s Basketball Players of the Week after Witt’s 30-point double-double and Frazee’s 20.5-point weekly average.

Driver cited after triggering three-vehicle crash on Main Street that damaged police car, hit Buckhannon bank

A Beverly woman allegedly ran a stop sign on Main Street in Buckhannon, causing a Dec. 27 crash that involved three vehicles and struck the First Community Bank building, according to the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department’s wreck report.

Woman extricated after Route 33 crash near Huddle House; truck driver cited

A Salem woman was trapped in her vehicle and had to be extricated after a two-vehicle crash on Route 33 north of the Huddle House. Police say a truck driver attempting to cross lanes to turn left was cited for failing to yield.

Bryan Lynn Fitzgerald

Bryan Lynn Fitzgerald, 68, of French Creek, WV, died December 24, 2025, in Morgantown and is survived by his family, with cremation and private services planned.

On the City of Buckhannon Calendar: Week of Dec. 29, 2025

No regularly scheduled meetings this week. City offices and waste collection closed January 1 for New Year’s Day.