State Records 24 Deaths
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reports as of 10:00 a.m., on April 20, there have been 22,155 laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 902 positive, 21,253 negative and 24 deaths.
The additional deaths include an 85-year old female from Monongalia County, a 78-year old female, a 79-year old female and a 95-year old female, all from Jackson County.
“It is with great sadness that we announce more lives lost to this pandemic,” said Bill J. Crouch, Cabinet Secretary of DHHR. “Our sympathies and thoughts go out to these families.”
These are considered official numbers reported to the state, which will in turn, be reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medical providers and laboratories are required to report positive test results to DHHR.
Delays may be experienced with the reporting of cases and deaths from the local health department to the state health department. It’s not uncommon for the local level to report case numbers first and then officially report it to the state.
CONFIRMED CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (4), Berkeley (111), Boone (2), Braxton (1), Brooke (3), Cabell (34), Fayette (5), Grant (1), Greenbrier (3), Hampshire (6), Hancock (7), Hardy (3), Harrison (30), Jackson (101), Jefferson (61), Kanawha (128), Lewis (2), Lincoln (1), Logan (8), Marion (44), Marshall (8), Mason (11), McDowell (6), Mercer (8), Mineral (8), Mingo (2), Monongalia (90), Monroe (5), Morgan (9), Nicholas (4), Ohio (22), Pendleton (2), Pleasants (2), Preston (10), Putnam (14), Raleigh (7), Randolph (4), Roane (3), Summers (1), Taylor (5), Tucker (4), Tyler (3), Upshur (4), Wayne (78), Wetzel (3), Wirt (2), Wood (31), Wyoming (1).
As case surveillance continues at the local health department level, it may reveal that those tested in a certain county may not be a resident of that county, or even the state as an individual in question may have crossed the state border to be tested.
A dashboard is available at www.coronavirus.wv.gov with West Virginia-specific data, including information on the health status of COVID-19 positive patients. A Frequently Asked Questions document has been developed regarding case counts and can be found here.
The number of laboratory results received refers to the number of tests performed and completed, not the number of residents tested as some individuals have had multiple samples taken for COVID-19 tests.
In an effort to implement Governor Jim Justice’s newest executive order, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) has begun working in coordination with the West Virginia National Guard to test individuals for COVID-19 who reside or work in West Virginia’s nursing homes.
DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health has developed a survey with the West Virginia Health Care Association that will be distributed to nursing homes this evening. The results from this survey will assist with the coordination of resources across the state. DHHR recognizes that many local partners have engaged early, and we are thankful for efforts across the state to respond to this order.
“We fully appreciate Governor Justice’s leadership during this state of emergency, especially when it comes to protecting some of our most vulnerable West Virginians,” said Bill J. Crouch, Cabinet Secretary of DHHR. “The partnership that DHHR has with the West Virginia National Guard is a good example of working together during a crisis with the ultimate goal of safety.”
This order will not include assisted living facilities, or retirement villages or communities.