Few new COVID-19 cases in area reported

Ryan McGaughey, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.
·3 min read

Feb. 28—REGIONAL — New positive cases of COVID-19 around the region were minimal during the 24-hour reporting period that culminated at 4 p.m. Saturday, as Nobles, Cottonwood, Jackson and Rock counties all added just one new case each. They were among 813 Minnesotans to receive positive test results for the virus during the one-day time span.

The state's cumulative total of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases has reached 484,594 (positive and antigen tests), with 470,819 beyond the 10-day isolation period. Thus far, 37,768 Minnesota health care workers have contracted the virus.

A total of eight deaths were reported during the latest 24-hour span. Among the dead were four individuals who resided in a private residence and four individuals who were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Minnesota's death toll from the virus now stands at 6,483, including 4,055 residents of long-term care facilities.

A local snapshot of COVID-19, with current cumulative positive and probable test results and deaths as reported by MDH, recovery data (beyond the 10-day isolation period) as of Feb. 25, and the percentage of residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Wednesday shows:

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Nobles County: 3,866 cases; 3,770 recoveries; 47 deaths; 11.7%.

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Cottonwood County: 1,347 cases; 1,309 recoveries; 20 deaths; 16.2%.

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Jackson County: 934 cases; 900 recoveries; 10 deaths; 11.9%.

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Murray County: 943 cases; 927 recoveries; eight deaths; 19.2%.

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Pipestone County: 1,014 cases; 975 recoveries; 24 deaths; 17.4%.

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Rock County: 1,157 cases; 1,137 recoveries; 14 deaths; 13.4%.

A walk-through COVID-19 saliva testing site is open at the Worthington Event Center, 1447 Prairie Drive. Appointments are encouraged at mncovidtestingappt.as.me/schedule.php, although walk-ins are welcome. Hours for free testing are noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

People are asked to stay home if sick or someone in their home is awaiting results of a COVID test. Hand washing with soap for at least 20 seconds, physical distancing, staying out of crowded/confined spaces with others, and wearing face masks in public places is still advised.

Congregate care facilities with COVID-19 exposures as of Friday included Colonial Manor, Lakefield; and Maple Lawn Senior Care, Fulda.

The Iowa Department of Health reports 363,469 cases of COVID-19 since testing began. Thus far, 5,471 deaths are blamed on the novel coronavirus in the state.

In northwest Iowa:

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Dickinson County: 2,172 positive cases (three new cases); 1,877 recovered; 39 deaths.

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Lyon County: 1,457 positive cases (one new case); 1,369 recovered; 41 deaths.

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Osceola County: 703 positive cases (no new cases); 643 recovered; 14 deaths.

Johns Hopkins University reports a nationwide cumulative total of 28,561,078 positive cases of COVID-19 as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Thus far, 512,276 Americans have died from the virus.

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