Case numbers as of December 2nd.

As the number of daily positive cases jumped in early November, several deaths related to COVID-19 have occurred in the last week for Washington County.

Washington County Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski informed KCII during the week of November 25th the county had 15 total deaths, and on Wednesday, December 2nd the number increased to 20. As of Monday, Pettit-Majewski says a few more deaths have been recorded, “We have actually seen quite a few deaths in the last two weeks, I can’t honestly tell you what the exact number is I’m guessing between 22 and 23 because I’m honestly starting to lose count.”

Pettit-Majewski adds that the county currently has 1,539 cases, an increase of 67 from last Wednesday. She says this is a thankful decrease than the rate of new cases the county saw at the beginning of November, but she doesn’t expect to see the full effect that the Thanksgiving holiday has on case numbers until later near Christmas. She reminds residents to continue practicing social distancing, wearing a face mask when social distancing isn’t possible, and staying home when you are sick.