Trending
ELKINS -- Even though COVID-19 numbers continue to trend downward both locally and throughout the state, area health officials urge residents not to put their guard down, as indoor holiday gatherings are on the horizon.
Bonnie Woodrum, the Randolph-Elkins Health Department's infectious disease specialist, told The Inter-Mountain Thursday that local case numbers have been holding steady this week, despite the large crowds gathering for the Mountain State Forest Festival a week ago.
"With everyone doing home testing these days, we really don't get the true numbers that we once received," she said. "But we haven't seen any upticks in the reports from local clinics this week, so that's a good thing. But we also know that there are still a lot of cases out in the community. The numbers that are reported are down all over, but it's still out there.
"As many as 80 percent of people who have COVID don't have it seriously enough to report or don't know they have it. But they're still contagious, so it's up to individuals to protect themselves and those people they care about."
According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources database, the active case numbers in the Mountain State was under 1,000 for a fourth straight day Thursday at 861.
Among area counties, the DHHR reports that Barbour and Pocahontas counties had the most active cases with 10 apiece. The report listed Upshur County with nine, Randolph County six and Tucker County one.
Those numbers, however, may take a turn in the opposite direction over the next two months, with colder weather on the way and two of the year's biggest holidays leading to more indoor gatherings.
"If you have a gathering, the best thing to do is ask people to stay home if they've been exposed or have symptoms," Woodrum said. "You hate to give up family gatherings and such, but if it means protecting someone else, just stay home."
Woodrum said the basic things everyone learned at the start of COVID are the best ways to keep from getting, and spreading, the virus.
"We know that handwashing and masking works," Woodrum said. "To protect those around you, if you're sick, wear a mask. If you're around people or in crowds, use a mask. It's not going to hurt, we know how to do it and it might keep us from getting it and taking it home."
The BA.5 subvariant has been the most dominant strain of COVID in the United States since the beginning of July. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the subvariant is responsible for close to 80 percent of the current cases in the U.S.
"The new strain doesn't cause the same kind of severe symptoms that the first strain caused," Woodrum said. "The first one really put people down and now the symptoms can be all over the chart.
"Some people have migraines, some have severe cold symptoms. So it's harder to get a handle on. But we still have people going to the hospital with it just like we do the flu and other illnesses, especially those who are immunosuppressed. And we still have people dying from it, so if a little bit of care can prevent that, why not do it?"
The Randolph-Elkins Health Department continues to offer the newest COVID booster vaccinations at its office. To get a booster shot, call 304-636-0396 and set up an appointment.