Ohio County Reports 79th COVID-19 Death | News, Sports, Jobs

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S. (NIAID-RML via AP)

WHEELING — The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department reported a new COVID-19-related death Friday night, the second straight night it has done so.

That puts the county at 79 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began. The department also announced 17 new positive cases in its Friday night update, increasing that total to 4,060.

Officials throughout Ohio County continue to promote COVID vaccinations, the latest being Wheeling city government.

“The increase in vaccine volume is great news, but we need to get shots into the arms of those who want it. That will put us one step closer to eradicating the virus,” Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said. “Getting the vaccine will protect not only your family and friends, but the community as well.”

Residents can sign up by visiting Wheeling Hospital’s website at http://www.wheelinghospital.org/covidvaccine. In order to make an appointment, users will need to provide their name, date of birth, address, email address and phone number.

The Marshall County Health Department reported two new confirmed positive and two new probable COVID cases in its Friday night report. That department is referring people to the Department of Health and Human Resources website for its latest totals, which were 2,362 positive cases, 821 probable cases and 73 deaths as of Friday morning.

Hancock, Brooke and Marshall counties remained green Friday, the safest category on the DHHR COVID alert map, while Ohio County was gold.

In Ohio, the Belmont County Health Department reported 5,701 positive COVID cases since the pandemic began, while 107 people have died after being infected with the virus.