MERCER, MCDOWELL COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS)– Variant cases of Covid are rising in Mercer and McDowell County.
According to the DHHR map, Mercer County currently has 82 cases of the Alpha variant and two cases of the Delta variant. McDowell County has 21 cases of the Alpha variant, one Gamma variant, and seven cases of the Delta variant. The Alpha variant derives from the United Kingdom, the Gamma variant is from Brazil, and the Delta variant is from India.
The McDowell County Health Department posts daily updates on its Facebook page. They also announce local vaccine drives and tips to stay healthy.
A health official with the Mercer County Health Department says that it takes about three to five weeks for the Delta variant to return on a test, so there may be more Delta cases around the area.
As cases are rising in Mercer County, so are the hospitalizations at Princeton Community Hospital located in Princeton, West Virginia.
Karen Bowling, CEO of Princeton Community Hospital, couldn’t give specifics but wants the community to know that mask-wearing and getting a vaccine is the key to slowing this virus down. She also mentions that it’s easy to find a vaccine at pharmacies or through the health department.