Though cases of the omicron variant appear to have peaked in the United States, the virus continues to claim lives. So far, more than 970,000 Americans have died from the virus — more than the total number of Americans killed in World War I and World War II combined.
In the Charleston metropolitan area, located in West Virginia, a total of 826 deaths have been attributed to the virus, equal to 380 fatalities for every 100,000 people. Nationwide, 300 deaths have been attributed to the virus per 100,000 people.
The higher than average per capita COVID-19 death rate across the metro area is being driven by one area in particular.
The broader Charleston metro area comprises three counties or county equivalents — and of them, Clay County has had the most COVID-19 fatalities per capita. So far, the per capita coronavirus death rate in Clay County stands at 455 for every 100,000 people.
Though it has the highest per capita death rate in the Charleston metro area, Clay County ranks among the middle 50% of all U.S. counties or county equivalents by COVID-19 death rate per capita.
All COVID-19 data used in this story are current as of April 20, 2022.
| Rank | Geography | Deaths per 100,000 people | Total deaths | Confirmed cases per 100,000 people | Total confirmed cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clay County, WV | 455 | 40 | 26,636 | 2,340 |
| 2 | Kanawha County, WV | 383 | 711 | 25,390 | 47,151 |
| 3 | Boone County, WV | 329 | 75 | 28,786 | 6,568 |
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