DHHR: West Virginia surpasses 8,000 COVID-19 deaths

CHARLESTON, W.Va (WDTV) - The West Virginia DHHR reports there have officially been more than 8,000 deaths in the state attributed to COVID-19.

In the past week, the DHHR says 29 people have died from COVID-19, pushing the number of COVID-19 deaths to 8,005.

“If we’ve just crossed 8,000, then that’s 8,000 too many,” Gov. Jim Justice said Wednesday. “Nobody wanted it to be one. It’s been an all-hands-on-deck battle. It’s been a lot of dark nights and everything. But at the same time, I think we’ve done really, really well in this state to be where we are.”

West Virginia surpassed 5,000 COVID-19 deaths in December 2021, 6,000 deaths in February 2022, and 7,000 deaths last June.

Justice ended emergency rules for COVID-19 on Jan. 1 that mobilized the West Virginia National Guard and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to respond to the pandemic.

West Virginians ages 6 months and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. All individuals ages 6 months and older should receive a primary series of vaccination, the initial set of shots that teaches the body to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. At this time, one Omicron booster shot (bivalent) is recommended for most people ages 6 months and older who completed the primary series, and their most recent COVID-19 shot was at least 2 months ago.

FOR RELATED COVERAGE

COVID-19 W.Va. | Total deaths surpass 6,000 (2/14/2022)

COVID-19 W.Va. | Total deaths surpass 7,000 (6/13/2022)

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