WV and National Disaster News - January 18, 2023

WEST VIRGINIA

COVID
WV Daily COVID Update & Stats for January 18, 2023 (WV DHHR) – There have been five deaths reported since yesterday's report, with a total of 7,790 deaths attributed to COVID-19. There are currently 911 active COVID-19 cases statewide. For detailed stats, see link.

• ​West Virginia governor tests positive 2nd time for COVID-19  (The Associated Press)

• Lawsuit may be filed against company involved in West Virginia chemical spill  (WOWK-TV)

Schools & Infrastructure

• New Herbert Hoover High School on pace for completion in 2023  (WSAZ-TV)
• Demolition, excavation underway on Alderson school project  (WVNS-TV)

 
NATIONAL NEWS
 
COVID

• Covid Isn't Going Away. New Drugs Are Coming. (Barron's)
• What to know about XBB.1.5, a new and highly transmissible COVID-19 subvariant (PBS), Also see: Most common symptoms in kids (AL.com)
• Can you get COVID and the flu at the same time? (NPR)
• When young children test positive for Covid-19 and another respiratory virus, their illness may be much more severe, a new study suggests (CNN Health)
• Rush To Return To 'Normal' May Have Outpaced Anti-Covid Air Safety Device (KHN.org)

 
Insurance Coverage & Disasters

• This insurance startup pays customers immediately after climate disasters (Business News)

• Winter storm to clobber areas from Colorado to Michigan with travel-snarling snow (AccuWeather)
• Remains of last missing person from Hurricane Ian found in sunken sailboat (AccuWeather)
•  "Utter devastation." FEMA reps tour tornado destruction in Selma (ABC News)
• GEMA officials address tornado damage, recovery efforts in many communities (Atlanta News First – Georgia), related news: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Puerto Rico on its way to privatizing power generation despite widespread skepticism (NBC News)