More than half the counties in West Virginia are now reporting known cases of COVID-19, the DHHR announced Tuesday.
In total, 17 new confirmed cases were announced Tuesday, bringing the total statewide to 162. Total tests increased by 316 to 4,143, according to the DHHR.
New cases were confirmed in Berkeley, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Ohio and Preston counties on Tuesday. Upshur County still has just one known case of COVID-19.
As he has nearly every day since the pandemic arrived in West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice issued more new regulations on Tuesday. Justice banned private campgrounds from allowing new out-of-state campers and ordered healthcare providers to suspend all elective medical procedures.
The orders came as the rate of new infections shows no signs of lessening yet in West Virginia. The rate of positive-to-negative test results has remained relatively steady at about 4 percent for the last two weeks.
The number of tests, meanwhile, has increased but remains low. Just 316 new tests were included in Tuesday’s numbers.
West Virginia also has been approved for two Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waivers, officials announced Tuesday.
One waiver will provide a six-month extension of the renewal period for those receiving benefits, while a second will automatically increase SNAP benefits to the maximum allowable amount for anyone already receiving benefits prior to April 1.
Confirmed cases by county: Berkeley (16), Cabell (1), Greenbrier (3), Hancock (3), Hardy (1), Harrison (11), Jackson (9), Jefferson (8), Kanawha (31), Logan (2), Marion (5), Marshall (4), Mason (3), Mercer (2), Monongalia (31), Morgan (1), Ohio (10), Pleasants (1), Preston (3), Putnam (4), Raleigh (3), Randolph (1), Roane (2), Tucker (2), Upshur (1), Wetzel (1), Wirt (1), Wood (2).
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