The West Virginia
Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) today confirmed 20 new cases of
novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been officially reported to the
state, making the total positive case count 96. New cases were identified in Berkeley,
Greenbrier, Hancock, Jackson, Kanawha, Marion, Mason, Ohio, Pleasants, Putnam, and
Raleigh counties.
DHHR is the official
reporting agency for COVID-19, and in turn provides official case numbers to
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Medical providers
are required to report test results to their local health departments, which
provide them to DHHR. Commercial/private labs are also required to report test
results to DHHR. However, the reporting of negative and pending tests to DHHR
has been inconsistent, contributing to the delay in official reporting.
As of March 27,
2020, at 7:30 p.m., 2,427 residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 96
positive, 2,331 negative and 6 tests pending (at state lab).
The state breakdown of cases by county is nine
individuals from Berkeley County, one from Greenbrier County, one from Hancock
County, four from Harrison County, six from Jackson County, four from Jefferson
County, 17 from Kanawha County, one from Logan County, three from Marion
County, three from Marshall County, three from Mason County, two from Mercer
County, 23 from Monongalia County (see below), six from Ohio County, one from
Pleasants County, one from Preston County, three from Putnam County, three from
Raleigh County, two from Tucker County, one from Upshur County, and two from
Wood County.
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. Such
is the case of Monongalia County this evening.
For the
most up to date information, please visit www.coronavirus.wv.gov or http://www.cdc.gov/COVID19.
A
Frequently Asked Questions document has been developed regarding case counts and
can be found here.