Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia health officials warned the public Wednesday of a potential increase in COVID-19 cases, because reports of the virus are growing in other states and in Europe.
“In Europe (Germany and Italy) they’re experiencing their third surge and cases are going up,” said Dr. Clay Marsh, the state’s coronavirus czar. “Younger people are getting more severely ill.”
Despite a much-lower death rate since the pandemic began more a year ago, Marsh said West Virginia “is not yet out of the woods.” (The first case of the novel coronavirus in the state was reported March 17, 2020, in Jefferson County.)
“The UK variant is very contagious,” Marsh said.
Since Monday, 34 more people in West Virginia have died of COVID-19-related causes, while 200 are hospitalized and 70 are in intensive care, Justice said during his regular press briefing Wednesday. More than 300 new cases were reported within the last 24 hours, which is up by about 100.
“We’re not on high alert yet,” said Justice, who also said the state’s surge hospital – St. Francis in Charleston – was closing because of lack of need. Overall, there have been 2,565 COVID-19-related deaths in the state.
“West Virginia, you have to listen to me,” he said. “This thing can tick back up. Please go get vaccinated.”
Justice said there is one red county in the state – Hardy – which has been attributed to school outbreaks. There are seven outbreaks in churches, including one in Monongalia County. State officials did not respond to a request to identify the local church.
All school employees who are 50 and older should be vaccinated by the end of next week. Also, people 16 and older can now pre-register for the vaccine, he said.
The state is also reaching out to 2,400 homebound West Virginians and will begin reaching out to the state’s homeless population later this month.
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