WV and National Disaster News - December 1, 2021

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WEST VIRGINIA

Government

WV Daily COVID Update & Stats for December 1, 2021 (WV DHHR) - there have been 27 deaths reported since the last report (yesterday, 11/30/21), with a total of 4,895 deaths attributed to COVID-19. DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 70-year old female from Braxton County, a 92-year old female from Hardy County, a 77-year old male from Marion County, a 70-year old female from Mercer County, an 86-year old female from Lincoln County, a 92-year old female from Pleasants County, a 68-year old male from Preston County, an 83-year old female from Tyler County, a 56-year old female from Calhoun County, a 63-year old male from Clay County, a 46-year old male from Putnam County, an 87-year old female from Marion County, a 75-year old male from Nicholas County, a 96-year old female from Mineral County, an 82-year old male from Grant County, a 72-year old female from Kanawha County, an 89-year old female from Webster County, an 85-year old male from Mingo County, a 71-year old male from Ohio County, a 78-year old male from Nicholas County, a 64-year old male from Ohio County, a 79-year old female from Mingo County, a 27-year old female from Putnam County, a 64-year old male from Greenbrier County, a 67-year old male from Berkeley County, a 69-year old male from Jackson County, and an 86-year old female from Marion County.

"It is with sadness that we report another day of significant loss in our state," said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. "Please help stop by the spread of COVID-19 by receiving your vaccine or booster shot."

LOCAL

• As covid-19 numbers persist, variant adds an additional worry for West Virginia health leaders (MetroNews-Radio)
• Little Known About Omicron Variant, State Health Officials Say  (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)
• W.Va. health officials in wait-and-see mode on new COVID-19 variant (The Parkersburg News and Sentinel)
• DHHR: Active COVID cases on the decline, 31 deaths added Tuesday (MetroNews-Radio)
• Only a fraction of youngest group in W.Va. has first COVID shot (WCHS-TV)
• ANALYSIS: How West Virginia’s new vaccine law opens the door wider to politicizing public health  (Mountain State Spotlight)
• Wildland fire prompts closure of some areas at New River Gorge (WCHS-TV)
• New River Gorge fire now at 100 acres (MetroNews-Radio)
• Fire crews from multiple states battle brush fire in New River Gorge (WVVA-TV)
• South Charleston working to improve internet, cable service with fiber network (WCHS)

REGIONAL NEWS

COVID

• Public health officials urge patience amid omicron (Washington Post)
• New court rulings halt Biden vaccine mandate for federal contractors, health workers (The Hill)
• Federal judge blocks Biden vaccine mandate for health care workers nationwide (Fox News)
• US panel backs first-of-a-kind COVID-19 pill from Merck (AP/Associated Press)
• Stricter coronavirus testing being weighed for all travelers to U.S. (Washington Post)
• Finding omicron in the U.S. requires national boost in surveillance efforts (NPR)
• 'A lot of it is related to burnout': Pandemic drives millions of women out of US workforce (WJLA Washington)
• Pfizer wants the FDA to let 16- and 17- year-olds get a COVID-19 booster shot (Delaware Public Media)

WEATHER

• Hurricane season over but hurricane recovery has a long way to go; Ida damage at $70 billion (CBS Local)
• Wildfire continues to burn at a North Carolina state park (ABC News)
• Graves proposes FEMA reforms (MissouriNet)