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W.Va. officials continue to stress COVID vaccines, boosters

WHEELING — Both the more potent delta variant of the COVID-19 virus and the waning benefits of the initial vaccinations have kept deaths from the virus high in West Virginia, state officials said.

That makes getting vaccinated — and those who are vaccinated getting a booster shot — extremely important, they added.

Friday marked the 621st day of the COVID pandemic. And James Hoyer, director of the state’s interagency task force, reported a set of statistics showing how the number of deaths from COVID in West Virginia has dramatically increased in recent months despite COVID vaccines being readily available.

During the first 310 days of the pandemic, 1,780 died in West Virginia from the COVID virus. In the second 311 days, meanwhile, there were 2,946 deaths — with 1,753 passing in the last 100 days, according to Hoyer.

“West Virginians, the pandemic is not over,” he said.

Hoyer also reported West Virginia’s transmission rate for COVID was back up to 0.99, and expected to hit the 1.0 mark this weekend just prior to Thanksgiving.

The 1.0 rate typically means higher rates for hospitalizations, and patients in intensive care units and on ventilators.

“We have gone up in our number of active cases and have hit 1,363 today,” Hoyer said. “In addition to that, we have plateaued and we have yet to drop below 500 in our hospitals. We know that we are going to see a significant increase moving forward. We’re going to be challenged again in our hospitals.

“The only way we are going to address those issues is for fellow West Virginians to get vaccinated, and for those over 50 to as quickly as possible get the booster to protect yourselves.”

Gov. Jim Justice reported 28 additional COVID deaths in West Virginia since Wednesday, bringing the state’s total number lost to COVID to 4,726.

He also reported 551 were hospitalized as of Friday due to COVID, 173 were in ICU units and 97 patients were on ventilators throughout the state.

Justice said 26% of those hospitalized due to COVID have been fully vaccinated.

“And that’s a problem,” he added. “They have been vaccinated, and a great many of them have just failed in getting their booster shot. They need to get their booster shots, and they need to get them quickly.”

Justice said many people aren’t getting their booster shot because they don’t believe they qualify.

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration and later the Centers for Disease Control gave their approval for all persons over age 18 to receive booster shots.

“For all practical purposes, everybody now qualifies,” Justice said. “Get your booster shot, and you will help us take the pressures off the hospitals.”

Justice also announced that next week that includes the Thanksgiving holiday he will have just one briefing with reporters, and that will take place at a time to be announced on Wednesday.

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