ELKINS — Local health officials are concerned that the holiday season will produce another surge in active COVID-19 cases.

Randolph County’s active COVID cases total stood at 124 on Monday, just down from the 128 reported a week ago. Total active cases in West Virginia are on the climb, however, with 8,746 on Monday, up from 8,598 a week ago.

Two COVID-related deaths have been confirmed in Randolph County, an 84-year-old man and a 87-year-old man. The COVID-related death of a 73-year old woman from Upshur County was also confirmed.

With many residents taking part in Christmas gatherings over this past weekend, and with New Year’s Eve approaching this Friday, health officials feel a spike in active case numbers is inevitable.

“With more people coming back home this week, we expect the active case numbers to be higher next week,” Bonnie Woodrum, the Randolph-Elkins Health Department’s infectious disease specialist, told The Inter-Mountain Monday. “People were together with family members and friends from all over the country, so it was that much easier to pick up the virus from somewhere else.”

Woodrum said the omicron variant will also contribute to there being more active cases in the Mountain State over the next several weeks, as it is considered much more contagious.

“It’s spreading across the county and even in West Virginia,” she said of the omicron variant. “It is so much more contagious than the other strains that we have out there right now. And some of the symptoms may be so mild that people might not even notice it or feel that they have it, so they should take any symptoms seriously.

“If they have sinus problems or allergy problems, they need to suspect that it might be COVID, and either get tested or take strict precautions so that they don’t spread it around.”

Woodrum said that the delta variant is still the one that is doing the most damage locally.

“The delta is much more serious as far as symptoms and hospitalizations go,” Woodrum said. “It’s still out there and just because the other is spreading more rapidly, that doesn’t mean it’s replacing the delta, it’s just adding to it.”

With another holiday weekend on the horizon, Woodrum said it’s important for people to stay home even if they are feeling the smallest of symptoms.

“People don’t wear masks when they are out eating or drinking, so we are concerned with what the upcoming weekend might bring,” Woodrum said. “I would advise people that if they have any symptoms at all, don’t go out and mix with others who may not be able to pull out of an illness. People need to protect others even if they don’t worry about themselves.”