Two more Upshur County COVID-19 cases identified Friday

Katie Kuba
June 19, 2020

BUCKHANNON — Two additional cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Upshur County on Friday, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

The Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department was closed Friday, June 19, due to the West Virginia Day holiday, but the DHHR’s 5 p.m. press release included two more cases, bringing the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases up to 12.

The DHHR release also indicated one additional case was confirmed in Lewis County on Friday and two in Randolph County. A total of 50 new cases were reported statewide Friday.

“Please slow down, limit travel, follow CDC guidelines, use a face mask if at all possible,” the Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department posted on Facebook Friday evening. “We cannot continue to pass this infectious disease among the residents of Upshur County. We have a vulnerable population, let’s protect them, they are our loved ones.”

As a result in the uptick in cases locally, Create Buckhannon recently announced its decision to cancel the entire season of Festival Fridays.

“Create Buckhannon made the decision to cancel the entire season 9 of Festival Fridays due to an increase in COVID-19 cases,” the group wrote on its Facebook page Thursday. “We thank you for your support and look forward to Season 9 in 2021. Stay safe, wash your hands and practice social distancing as we all weather this storm.”

During his Friday COVID-19 press conference, Governor Jim Justice urged all West Virginians — and particularly church-goers — to wear masks.

“Absoutely, you have got to wear a mask,” said the governor, who stopped short of making mask-wearing mandatory. “You have got to stay every other pew. For crying out loud, if someone’s not doing it (wearing a mask), say something. Please protect yourself. “

“It’s not worth it to be standing by watching a friend or family member in a hospital bed who is struggling to breathe,” he added.

Justice said any West Virginians returning from the Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina should get tested for COVID-19.

Dr. Clay Marsh, the state’s coronavirus ‘czar’ claimed that if 80 percent of people complied by wearing masks, that would be the equivalent of having a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19.

No additional deaths were reported in the DHHR’s 5 p.m. report.

“The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reports as of 5 p.m. on June 19, 2020, there have been 146,545 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 2,468 total cases and 88 deaths,” the release states.

CASES PER COUNTY (Case confirmed by lab test/Probable case): Barbour (11/0), Berkeley (409/18), Boone (20/0), Braxton (3/0), Brooke (5/1), Cabell (77/3), Calhoun (2/0), Clay (10/0), Fayette (56/0), Gilmer (10/0), Grant (15/1), Greenbrier (42/0), Hampshire (40/0), Hancock (19/2), Hardy (40/1), Harrison (48/1), Jackson (141/0), Jefferson (210/5), Kanawha (253/8), Lewis (15/0), Lincoln (5/0), Logan (21/0), Marion (51/2), Marshall (36/1), Mason (15/0), McDowell (6/0), Mercer (16/0), Mineral (51/2), Mingo (11/3), Monongalia (135/14), Monroe (8/1), Morgan (19/1), Nicholas (7/0), Ohio (66/1), Pendleton (12/1), Pleasants (3/1), Pocahontas (21/1), Preston (37/6), Putnam (40/1), Raleigh (28/1), Randolph (148/0), Ritchie (2/0), Roane (11/0), Summers (1/0), Taylor (12/1), Tucker (5/0), Tyler (3/0), Upshur (12/1), Wayne (105/1), Wetzel (9/0), Wirt (4/0), Wood (52/4), Wyoming (7/0).