The total number of positive cases of COVID-19 increased by double digits in two of the seven counties in the KMMO listening area on Wednesday, August 12.

According to health department officials, Pettis County’s total of positive cases ballooned from 526 on Tuesday to 554 on Wednesday. With 435 patients listed as recovered and four deaths, there are 115 active cases, including four persons hospitalized.

In Saline County, the total of positive cases increased to 452- up 11 from the day before. With 386 recoveries and seven deaths, there are 59 active cases, including two persons hospitalized. Numbers are based on case management provided by the Saline County Health Department staff.

The positive number of cases in Cooper County increased by six to 154. With 119 cases recovered and two deaths, there are 33 active cases. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 144 cases are through community transmission and 10 are travel related. Fifty-four cases are congregate living (which are included in the total case and community-transmission numbers). Fifty-two cases are inmates and employees and three are at nursing homes or assisted-living centers.

Four more positive cases were confirmed in Lafayette County on Wednesday, raising its overall total to 180. Since 134 patients have recovered and there have been three deaths, there are 39 active cases. Health officials say just over 10 percent of the county’s population has been tested.

Three new positive cases were confirmed in Howard County on Wednesday. Those bring the county’s overall total to 53. With 44 cases recovered, that leaves nine active cases. Health department officials say Central Methodist University in Fayette currently is doing surveillance testing of students, so this has contributed to the uptick in positive numbers.

Carroll County’s numbers had remained the same since Friday, August 7- with all 87 of the positive cases recovered. However, one new positive case was confirmed on Wednesday.

An update was not available in Chariton County. One new positive case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the county on Monday, August 10, to make 22 total since the beginning of the pandemic. With 14 persons released from public health isolation, there were eight active cases at that time.