CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY) – The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) today confirmed 20 new cases of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been officially reported to the state, making the total positive case count 96. New cases were identified in Berkeley, Greenbrier, Hancock, Jackson, Kanawha, Marion, Mason, Ohio, Pleasants, Putnam, and Raleigh counties.
DHHR is the official reporting agency for COVID-19, and in turn provides official case numbers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 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. However, the reporting of negative and pending tests to DHHR has been inconsistent, contributing to the delay in official reporting.
As of March 27, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., 2,427 residents have been tested for COVID-19, with 96 positive, 2,331 negative and 6 tests pending (at state lab).
The state breakdown of cases by county is nine individuals from Berkeley County, one from Greenbrier County, one from Hancock County, four from Harrison County, six from Jackson County, four from Jefferson County, 17 from Kanawha County, one from Logan County, three from Marion County, three from Marshall County, three from Mason County, two from Mercer County, 23 from Monongalia County (see below), six from Ohio County, one from Pleasants County, one from Preston County, three from Putnam County, three from Raleigh County, two from Tucker County, one from Upshur County, and two from Wood County.
As case surveillance continues at the local health department level, it may reveal that those tested in a certain county may not be a resident of that county, or even the state as an individual in question may have crossed the state border to be tested. Â Such is the case of Monongalia County this evening.
For the most up to date information, please visit www.coronavirus.wv.gov orhttp://www.cdc.gov/COVID19.