State COVID-19 czar Dr. Clay Marsh continues to encourage West Virginians to get the vaccine as the delta variant surges. During a briefing this week, Marsh said the state is at a critical moment with active COVID cases increasing by 200 to 300 per day on average this week. Hospitalizations are up as well, and there were 11 outbreaks reported in long-term care facilities. Unvaccinated individuals account for virtually all of the new cases. West Virginia ranks 44th in the U.S. in percentage of total population that are fully vaccinated.