ELKINS — Active COVID-19 case numbers have begun to edge upward both statewide and locally.

In April active case numbers in Randolph County mostly hovered in the single digits. But after several weeks of slight increases, the Elkins-Randolph County Health Department reported on Friday that there are 35 active cases in the county.

Other than Randolph County, Upshur County is the only other local county in double digits with 31 active cases. Barbour County currently has nine active cases, while Tucker County has four and Pocahontas County has two.

“We are up about 10 from last week and we have been seeing a steady incline the past few weeks,” Kassie Swecker, clinical nurse supervisor for the Elkins-Randolph County Health Department, told The Inter-Mountain Friday. “And we do have a couple outbreaks of COVID in some long-term care facilities and residential settings.”

Swecker said the numbers are likely to continue to rise over the next several weeks.

“I expect it to steadily increase, especially as people begin to gather for picnics, holidays, graduations and things like that,” she said. “As people get together in larger groups, it’s only going to spread more and make the numbers go up.”

Swecker said taking extra precautions when going to public gatherings can make a big difference in helping stop the spread of the virus.

“I think if people are smart about it and can distance while being outside at an event, I don’t really think masks are necessary at this time,” she said. “They just need to be cautious in how close together they get. The big thing is that if you feel any kind of sickness at all, stay home and avoid any kind of events where there are going to be a lot of people.”

Distancing from others, hand-washing and staying home can also prevent the spread of a gastroenteritis virus that Swecker said has been sweeping through the county in recent weeks.

The best course to remain safe from COVID-19 is to be vaccinated and to follow up with boosters shots. The Elkins-Randolph County Health Department is still offering both by appointment only. Must vaccinations at the clinic are done on Thursdays.

There are currently 1,658 active COVID-19 cases in the Mountain State. That number is up from the 1,114 reported by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources a week ago. Deaths have increased by 13 over the past week, jumping from 6,880 to 6,893.