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WHEELING -- Despite variable day-to-day numbers of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio and Marshall counties, the infection rate and percent positivity continue to climb daily, causing Ohio County to worsen to orange on the color-coded map, alongside its southern neighbor.
According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, which reports the previous day's COVID-19 figures, Ohio County's infection rate spiked from 42.43 to 47.95, embedding it more firmly in the red. The lower metric, percent positivity, worsened from 4.38 to 5.1, tipping the county to orange. Ohio County previously increased from yellow to gold overnight Saturday.
On Wednesday, the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department reported 32 new cases for the day, bringing the total number to 726 cases overall since the pandemic began. The department conducted 144 tests on Ohio Valley residents.
In Marshall County, the total number of active cases reported Wednesday dropped from 173 to 149. Despite the drop in cases, the infection rate and percent positivity both climbed further, to 68.31 and 7.36, respectively; like Ohio County, the infection rate was in the red, while percent positivity was orange.
Marshall County on Wednesday reported 14 new cases, all of whom reported mild or moderate symptoms. Among the new patients was a 6-year-old boy.
The county also had three new probable cases. One probable case reported previously was reclassified with confirmed, active cases. This brings Marshall County to a total of 445 confirmed cases during the outbreak and 50 probable cases, 174 of which are quarantined and six hospitalized,
Marshall County, which reported a near doubling of cases among residents and staff members at Cameron Nursing Home between Sunday and Monday, did not see further increases in cases at long-term care facilities Wednesday.