CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Covid 19 case numbers in West Virginia continue to take a steep climb as they have done in other parts of the United States.
The Department of Health and Human Resources’ daily report on Saturday reflected a new one day high of 1,153 new Covid 19 positives in West Virginia. There are 9,141 active cases in the state.
There were also 344 people hospitalized on Saturday, also a pandemic high. Officials say 104 of those hospitalized are being treated in intensive care.
The state also reported nine more Covid 19 related fatalities in West Virginia Saturday. The newest fatalities blamed on the virus were a 71-year old male from Berkeley County, an 87-year old male from Summers County, a 61-year old male from Greenbrier County, a 77-year old male from Wayne County, an 80-year old female from Marshall County, an 83-year old female from Barbour County, an 86-year old female from Kanawha County, a 57-year old male from Kanawha County, and a 91-year old male from Cabell County. The death toll in the state now stands at 574.
.@WV_DHHR reports as of 10:00 a.m., November 14, 2020, there have been 911,868 total confirmatory laboratory results received for #COVID19, with 32,792 total cases and 574 deaths. https://t.co/1Kl1rTD8Wg pic.twitter.com/X4K1Zovqj7
— WV Department of Health & Human Resources • ? (@WV_DHHR) November 14, 2020
The daily alert map produced each day to reflect the spread had Barbour County in red, but there were 16 counties in orange and 11 in gold. It’s unclear what impact the numbers will have on the weekly educational alert map which is released at 5 p.m. Saturday. The numbers will dictate next week’s plans for school and extra curricular activities.
This week, Governor Jim Justice issued executive orders anticipating the potential for spread and halted all winter school sports and issued what he called an “ultra-mandatory” mask mandate.
West Virginia’s RT value, reflecting the rate of spread, on Saturday stood at 1.12. Anything above 1 indicates the virus is spreading. West Virginia was the 18th lowest RT value in the nation. Only Mississippi is below the 1.0 value showing no spread.