WEIRTON -- Public health officials have reported the first death linked to COVID-19 in Hancock County and two additional deaths in Brooke County.
The Hancock County Health Department has reported a 73-year-old woman's death has been linked to the coronavirus.
The Brooke County Health Department has reported two deaths related to the coronavirus, the first since July.
Mike Bolen, administrator of the Brooke County department, said the two recent deaths were related to the outbreak at a local assisted care facility that he didn't identify.
Bolen said he doesn't know the pair's ages and whether there were other health conditions that may have contributed to their deaths.
He said the determination of whether a death was COVID-19-related falls to the physician that signs the patient's death certificate.
Bolen confirmed several Brooke County residents testing positive for the virus also have been hospitalized
Stonerise Healthcare, owners of Valley Haven skilled nursing center in Beech Bottom, confirmed an outbreak occurred there but declined to comment on whether any residents had been hospitalized.
Officials with Stonerise reported 43 of 47 residents and 10 staff members tested positive for the virus during the past week, adding families of the residents were notified.
Officials with Stonerise said measures were taken to prevent spread of the virus, including closing it to visitors as required under state guidelines.
Kristen Stotler, administrator and chief executive officer of Valley Haven, said she and her staff worked with state and local health officials to establish separate units at Valley Haven to prevent contact between patients who tested positive and those who hadn't or were awaiting test results.
She said staff who tested positive were advised to self-isolate at home.
They said since the pandemic began, staff have been using personal protective equipment and following infection control policies, restricting visitor access, limiting new admissions and screening patients and staff regularly for potential symptoms.
The news comes as local health departments are receiving more reports of local COVID-19 cases.
Bolen said cases at nursing homes are counted as one because under present conditions, their residents don't have the opportunity to spread the virus to those outside.
On Thursday, the Hancock County department reported five new cases involving two females, ages 16 and 60; and three males, ages 16, 30 and 67.
They are among 32 active cases recorded for the county, including three who were hospitalized.