WV and National Disaster News - October 18, 2021

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WEST VIRGINIA

Government

WV Daily COVID Update and Stats for October 18, 2021 - There have been 28 deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 4,134* deaths attributed to COVID-19.  *The deaths of a 46-year-old male and a 90-year old female, both from Preston County, that posted to the dashboard on October 12 and 13, 2021, have been determined to be duplicate reportings and have been removed from the total deaths.

DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 71-year old male from Preston County, a 93-year old male from Tucker County, an 85-year old male from Lewis County, a 73-year old male from Wood County, an 89-year old female from Preston County, a 53-year old female from Wetzel County, a 38-year old female from Logan County, a 56-year old male from Wood County, a 63-year old female from Marion County, an 86-year old male from Jackson County, a 73-year old male from Kanawha County, a 68-year old male from Tucker County, a 59-year old male from Wood County, a 78-year old male from Marion County, an 84-year old male from Kanawha County, an 80-year old male from Berkeley County, a 79-year old male from Wirt County, an 89-year old female from Fayette County, a 53-year old male from Putnam County, a 77-year old male from Harrison County, a 41-year old female from Cabell County, a 93-year old male from Hancock County, a 93-year old male from Wayne County, a 52-year old male from Berkeley County, a 71-year old female from Wayne County, a 57-year old male from Berkeley County, a 46-year old male from Kanawha County, and an 83-year old male from Nicholas County.

“We mourn the loss of these West Virginians and send our deepest sympathies to their loved ones,” said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. “Please schedule your COVID vaccine today and remember to get your booster shot if you're eligible.”

Local

• Sissonville man who battled COVID: 'I don't want anyone to go through what I went through' (WCHS TV News)
• Marion Co., West Virginia, Superintendent: COVID-19 numbers down in schools (WV News)
• COVID-19 vaccine exemption passes West Virginia House (AP News)
• White House looks to scale back its climate initiative after stiff pushback from Manchin (Washington Post)
• Cameron Elementary grateful for help rebuilding after flooding (WTRF Wheeling)
• City and County leaders tackle flooding issues in parts of McMechen (WTRF Wheeling)
• State past Delta peak, but deaths expected to continue (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
• Active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia fall below 10,000 Sunday (WV MetroNews)
• COVID-19 vaccine exemption bill passes West Virginia House, heads to Senate (WDVM Washington)
• W.Va. coronavirus news conference scheduled Monday (WCHS Charleston)
• Mixed feelings on Harrison County American Rescue Plan funds allocation (WV News)
• Justice unveils 1 billion broadband initiative (WV MetroNews)
• West Virginia one of the least safe states to be in during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to WalletHub study (WBOY Clarksburg)
• CAMC extends mandatory COVID-19 vaccine deadline for employees to Nov. 6 (WCHS Charleston)

national

COVID

• J&J recipients should 'feel good' about booster recommendation: Fauci (ABC News)
• Outgoing NIH director Francis Collins: “We underestimated vaccine hesitancy” (MSNBC)

Weather

• As Manchin Blocks Climate Plan, His State Can’t Hold Back Floods (New York Times)
• The last days inside Trailer 83 (The Washington Post)
• Thousands march in Puerto Rico, outraged over power outages (The Associated Press)
• FEMA’s Deanne Criswell talks following your gut and the agency’s focus on equity in disaster response (19^th News)