REGIONAL — Cottonwood County reported 26 new cases of COVID-19, according to Sunday's update from the Minnesota Department of Public Health, while Nobles County added 23 new cases of the novel coronavirus. The information was based on a 24-hour reporting period that ended at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Cottonwood County and Nobles County each also reported one new COVID-19 death, with both persons being between the ages of 85-89. No other information was made available.
Elsewhere in southwest Minnesota, Rock County added 11 more cases of the novel coronavirus, while Jackson County had 10, Pipestone County five and Murray County four.
Statewide, another 5,588 individuals statewide tested positive for the novel coronavirus during the latest 24-hour period, bringing the state’s cumulative total of confirmed positive cases to 350,862 (positive tests and antigen tests), with 308,218 beyond the 10-day isolation period.
Sixty-four more deaths are being blamed on COVID-19 across Minnesota. Among the dead were 26 individuals who resided in private residences and 38 individuals in long-term care facilities. There have now been 3,984 Minnesotans lost to COVID-19, including 2,637 residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities.
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Thus far, 25,471 Minnesota health care workers have contracted the novel coronavirus.
The Nobles County Joint Information Team asks everyone to stay home when feeling sick and/or awaiting COVID-19 test results, including those who live with them. Also, only members of the same household are advised to gather together.
“Residents need to remain vigilant in the use of universal precautions. Hand washing with soap (for 20 seconds), physical distancing, staying out of crowded/confined spaces with others, and the use of face masks are important,” the team stated.
A saliva testing site for COVID-19 is now open at the Worthington Event Center, 1447 Prairie Dr. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Appointments are encouraged online at mncovidtestingappt.as.me/schedule.php, although walk-ins are welcome.
A local snapshot of the virus shows the following cumulative totals since testing began. The number of recoveries and positivity rate is based on information released Dec. 3 by MDH.
Nobles County: 3,201 positive cases; 33 probable cases; 2,982 beyond the 10-day isolation period; 35 deaths; 20.9% positivity rate. As of Thursday, there were 149 residents infected with COVID-19. They included one individual between the ages of birth to age 10; three individuals aged 11-15; 11 individuals aged 16-19; 21 individuals aged 20-25; 54 individuals aged 26-50; 30 individuals aged 51-64; and 29 individuals aged 65 and older.
Cottonwood County: 962 positive cases; 57 probable cases; 773 beyond the 10-day isolation period; five deaths; 9.9% positivity rate.
Jackson County: 571 positive cases; 11 probable cases; 450 beyond the 10-day isolation period; one death; 9.9% positivity rate.
Murray County: 629 positive cases; 10 probable cases; 549 beyond the 10-day isolation period; five deaths; 9.6% positivity rate.
Pipestone County: 773 positive cases; 15 probable cases; 661 beyond the 10-day isolation period; 18 deaths; 9% positivity rate.
Rock County: 853 positive cases; 21 probable cases; 716 beyond the 10-day isolation period; 10 deaths; 8.9% positivity rate.
Congregate care facilities in this area with COVID-19 exposures as of Friday include Ecumen Meadows, Golden Horizons and Crossroads Care Center, all in Worthington; Parkview Manor, Ellsworth; Colonial Manor Nursing Home and Valley View Assisted Living, Lakefield; Edgebrook Care Center and Edgebrook Estates Assisted Living, Edgerton; Good Samaritan Society homes in Jackson, Luverne, Mountain Lake, Pipestone, Windom and Westbrook; Maple Lawn Senior Care, Fulda; Good Samaritan Society/Mikkelsen Manor, Windom; the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne; and Ridgeview Estates, Pipestone.
The Iowa Department of Health reports 243,930 cases of COVID-19 in its state since testing began, with 158,993 individuals considered recovered. Thus far, 2,682 deaths are blamed on COVID-19 in the state.
In northwest Iowa:
Dickinson County: 1,480 positive cases (four new cases); 950 recovered; 12 deaths. Long-term care facilities with current infections include Accura Health Care, Milford, with 15 cases reported in the last two weeks.
Lyon County: 1,086 positive cases (two new cases); 689 recovered; 10 deaths. Long-term care facilities with current infections include the Good Samaritan Society, George, with one new case reported in the last two weeks.
Osceola County: 556 positive cases (three new cases); 371 recovered; two deaths. Long-term care facilities with current infections include Country View Manor, Sibley, with 16 cases reported in the last two weeks.
Nationwide, Johns Hopkins University reports a cumulative total of 14,610,367 positive cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 10:30 a.m. Sunday, with 5,576,026 individuals deemed recovered. There have been 281,347 COVID-related deaths in the United States.
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