CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The COVID-19 death total increased by two Thursday in West Virginia.
The state Department of Health and Human Resources said an 85-year-old Kanawha County woman and 73-year-old Jackson County woman are the latest victims.
There have been a total of 71 COVID-19 deaths in West Virginia.
“It is with a heavy heart that we report another life lost to this horrible virus,” DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch said.
According to the DHHR, the state now has had 1,603 confirmed cases following 84,319 total tests. The state’s positive test rate is 1.90 percent.
The state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety confirmed Thursday two additional employees have Huttonsville State Prison have tested positive for COVID-19. The cases were confirmed during contact tracing that began after two other workers tested positive at the prison. DMAPS said the two new cases were not among the tests given at the prison Wednesday. The National Guard tested the night shift at Huttonsville Thursday evening.
Two inmates have also tested positive. Test results of other inmates are pending.
Test results have also been reported at the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Moorefield. There were 18 positive cases following 520 total tests. Hardy County now has 34 over confirmed cases.
.@WV_DHHR reports as of 5:00 p.m., on May 21, 2020, there have been 84,319 laboratory results received for #COVID19, with 1,603 positive, 82,716 negative and 71 deaths. #SaferAtHomeWVhttps://t.co/oc0B6WlBrA pic.twitter.com/vGMyy8Xoe8
— WV DHHR (@WV_DHHR) May 21, 2020
Confirmed cases per county include:
Barbour (7), Berkeley (251), Boone (9), Braxton (2), Brooke (3), Cabell (56), Calhoun (2), Clay (2), Fayette (39), Gilmer (9), Grant (6), Greenbrier (9), Hampshire (13), Hancock (13), Hardy (34), Harrison (37), Jackson (135), Jefferson (132), Kanawha (203), Lewis (5), Lincoln (5), Logan (15), Marion (48), Marshall (27), Mason (15), McDowell (6), Mercer (13), Mineral (35), Mingo (3), Monongalia (119), Monroe (6), Morgan (17), Nicholas (9), Ohio (38), Pendleton (5), Pleasants (2), Pocahontas (15), Preston (15), Putnam (31), Raleigh (14), Randolph (9), Ritchie (1), Roane (8), Summers (1), Taylor (8), Tucker (4), Tyler (3), Upshur (6), Wayne (96), Wetzel (7), Wirt (4), Wood (48), Wyoming (3).
Testing Friday and Saturday
Meanwhile, several state agencies will work with local county health departments at free testing events Friday and Saturday in Cabell, Kanawha, Marion and Monongalia counties. The testing will go from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to everyone with identification. Juveniles need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Six locations are scheduled to host testing starting Friday:
— 16th Street Baptist Church, 1647 9th Ave. in Huntington.
— Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center, 1701 5th Ave. in Charleston.
— Windmill Park, 900 Ogden Ave. in Fairmont.
— Big Lots, 902 Fairmont Road in Morgantown on Friday only.
— WVU Coliseum, 3450 Monongahela Blvd. in Morgantown on Saturday only.
— Mountainview Elementary School, 661 Green Bag Road in Morgantown on Saturday only.
Residents coming for a test are asked to wear a mask or face covering. People conducting tests will be wearing personal protective equipment. Social distancing will be observed.