UPDATE: The WV DHHR says the positve COVID-19 cases count is at 51, with 12 new cases as of this morning, March 26, 2020. Yesterday, March 25, 2020, the WV DHHR originally said the state had 52 cases reported, however, they now say the case reported out of Hancock County has been identified as a resident of Jefferson County, Ohio, and is not being counted in West Virginia’s total.

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources confirmed today 13 new cases of novel coronavirus disease 2019 have been reported to the state, making the total positive case count at 52.

New cases were identified in Hancock, Jackson, Kanawha, Logan, Marion, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Putnam and Raleigh counties.

The state breakdown of cases by county are two individuals from Berkeley County, one from Hancock County, three from Harrison County, three from Jefferson County, four from Jackson County, five from Kanawha County, one from Logan County, one from Marion County, two from Marshall County, two from Mercer County, 18 from Monongalia County, two from Ohio County, two from Preston County, two from Putnam County, one from Raleigh County, two from Tucker County and one from Wood County.

As of 8:30 p.m., March 25, 1,083 residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 52 positive, 1,031 negative and 19 tests pending at the state lab.

WV DHHR officials say since COVID-19 is a new disease, it is newly reportable to West Virginia’s public health system.

“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,” officials say. “However, the reporting of negative and pending tests to DHHR has been inconsistent. Only DHHR’s state lab has consistently reported all its negative results and pending tests. DHHR is working with its public and private partners to ensure all required information is properly reported.”

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