Nobles County adds 22 positive COVID-19 cases, one death

REGIONAL — Nobles County added 22 new positive COVID-19 cases and recorded another resident’s death due to complications from the novel coronavirus, according to this morning’s update from the Minnesota Department of Health. The information was based on a 24-hour reporting period that ended at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Nobles County individual was between the ages of 65 and 69. No other information is provided by MDH.

Elsewhere in southwest Minnesota, Pipestone and Rock counties each added 18 new cases of COVID-19, while Jackson County had 12 new cases, Cottonwood County 10 and Murray County 6.

Statewide, another 6,166 individuals tested positive for the novel coronavirus during the 24-hour period, bringing the state’s cumulative total of confirmed positive cases to 333,626 (positive tests and antigen tests), with 290,019 beyond the 10-day isolation period.

In addition, 92 more deaths are being blamed on COVID-19. Among the dead were 42 individuals who resided in private residences, 48 individuals in long-term care facilities, one individual who resided in a group home or residential behavioral health facility and one individual in jail/prison. There have now been 3,692 Minnesotans lost to COVID-19, including 2,474 residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities.

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 in a release.

Thus far, 24,217 Minnesota health care workers have contracted the novel coronavirus.

A local snapshot of the virus shows the following cumulative totals since testing began. The number of recoveries is based on information released Dec. 3 by MDH.

• Nobles County: 3,121 positive cases; 16 probable cases; 2,982 beyond the 10-day isolation period; 32 deaths; 20.9% positivity rate.

• Cottonwood County: 897 positive cases; 48 probable cases; 773 beyond the 10-day isolation period; four deaths; 9.9% positivity rate.

• Jackson County: 523 positive cases; nine probable cases; 450 beyond the 10-day isolation period; one death; 9.9% positivity rate.

• Murray County: 607 positive cases; five probable cases; 549 beyond the 10-day isolation period; four deaths; 9.6% positivity rate.

• Pipestone County: 754 positive cases; 11 probable cases; 661 beyond the 10-day isolation period; 18 deaths; 9% positivity rate.

• Rock County: 808 positive cases; 16 probable cases; 716 beyond the 10-day isolation period; nine deaths; 8.9% positivity rate.

Congregate care facilities in this area with COVID-19 exposures as of Nov. 27 include Adrian Country Living Cottages, Adrian; Parkview Manor, Ellsworth; Ecumen Meadows, Golden Horizons, Crossroads Care Center and South Shore Care Center, all in Worthington; Colonial Manor Nursing Home and Valley View Assisted Living, Lakefield; Edgebrook Care Center, Edgerton; Good Samaritan Society homes in Jackson, Luverne, Mountain Lake, Pipestone, Windom and Westbrook; Maple Lawn Senior Care, Fulda; the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne; and Ridgeview Estates, Pipestone.
The Iowa Department of Health reports 236,794 cases of COVID-19 in its state since testing began, with 147,153 individuals considered recovered. Thus far, 2,519 deaths are blamed on COVID-19 in the state.

In northwest Iowa:

• Dickinson County: 1,445 positive cases (25 new cases); 908 recovered; 11 deaths.

• Lyon County: 1,065 positive cases (eight new cases); 650 recovered; nine deaths.

• Osceola County: 544 positive cases (five new cases); 352 recovered; one death. Long-term care facilities with current infections include Country View Manor, Sibley, with 21 cases in the last two weeks.

Nationwide, Johns Hopkins University reports a cumulative total of 13,943,627 positive cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of 9:30 a.m. today, with 5,322,128 individuals deemed recovered. There have been 273,920 COVID-related deaths in the United States.

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