WV and National Disaster News - December 15, 2021

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WEST VIRGINIA

Government

WV Daily COVID Update and Stats for December 15, 2021 (WV DHHR) - There have been 28 deaths reported since the last report (yesterday, 12/14/21), with a total of 5,142 deaths attributed to COVID-19. DHHR has confirmed the deaths of an 89-year old female from Cabell County, a 61-year old female from Cabell County, a 67-year old female from Jackson County, a 64-year old male from Greenbrier County, a 79-year old male from Greenbrier County, an 83-year old male from Monongalia County, a 91-year old male from Mineral County, a 77-year old male from Monongalia County, a 61-year old female from Raleigh County, a 36-year old male from Mineral County, a 72-year old male from Marshall County, a 59-year old male from Mason County, an 83-year old male from Berkeley County, a 78-year old female from Jefferson County, a 77-year old female from Raleigh County, a 77-year old male from Harrison County, a 61-year old female from Harrison County, a 64-year old male from Kanawha County, a 71-year old male from Jackson County, a 52-year old male from Brooke County, a 57-year old male from Cabell County, a 70-year old male from Kanawha County, a 56-year old male from Taylor County, a 69-year old female from Marion County, a 45-year old male from Raleigh County, a 59-year old male from Harrison County, a 56-year old male from Marion County, and a 74-year old male from Nicholas County.

“Every loss is painful, a feeling which seems to intensify during the holidays,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “Good health is the greatest gift we can have or share with others. I urge all who are eligible to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.”

Local

• WV Gov. Justice: Percentage of unvaccinated COVID hospital patients on the rise again (WDVM), also see WBOY
• West Virginia health leaders continue urging COVID-19 vaccines one year into availability (WOWK)
• Marsh: West Virginia could be hit by delta surge and then walloped by omicron (MetroNews-Radio)
• W.Va. health officials push COVID-19 vaccines, boosters as Delta, Omicron variants loom (The Exponent Telegram)
• DHHR: Active cases of coronavirus drop more than 400 in Tuesday report (MetroNews-Radio)
• COVID-19 W.Va. | 7 additional deaths, 781 new cases reported (WSAZ-TV)

• West Virginia celebrates anniversary of COVID-19 vaccine arrival in state (WTRF-TV)

nATIONAL NEWS

COVID

• Omicron spreading rapidly in U.S. and could bring punishing wave as soon as January, CDC warns (Washington Post)

WEATHER

• Biden visiting storm-ravaged Kentucky to offer aid, support (Associated Press) Related articles: Government Technology/ McClatchy News; CNN; The Center Square (AR) AccuWeather, PBS News Hour, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News

• Hospitals Nearing Capacity Statewide as PA COVID Surge Continues (Yahoo News)
• Today marks one year anniversary of first Covid vaccine administered in the U.S. (CNBC)
• NIH Director Talks the Pandemic, Vaccine Hesitancy and Americans' Health (NPR)
• 'A defining tragedy': US COVID death toll eclipses 800,000 as winter surge intensifies (ABC News)
• NWS, Emergency Management Officials urge locals to be Prepared for Severe Weather year-round (The Daily Times)