Delta

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have been declining for weeks in the Mountain State. Those are signs that the delta surge is on a downturn, but COVID-related deaths are the last indicator of a variant’s course.

Despite growing concerns about the highly infectious coronavirus delta variant, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Monday he is not yet going to reinstate a mask mandate. However, in lieu of such a measure, Justice and his health advisers are urging high-risk individuals to wear masks in public and continue to ask all residents to get vaccinated.

Officials say a plane flying from New York to Tennessee made an emergency landing in West Virginia after striking a bird.News outlets report the 57…