Positive COVID-19 cases continue to rise in several of the counties in the KMMO listening area.

According to health-department officials, in Pettis County, 15 positive cases were added on Thursday, bringing the total to 665 since the beginning of the pandemic. With 534 positive cases recovered and four deaths, there are 126 active cases, including four people who remain hospitalized.

Nine new positive cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Cooper County on Thursday. Of the 198 total positives, 157 have recovered. With two deaths, that leaves 39 active cases. Eleven of the cases are travel related and 187 through community transmission. Fifty-four cases are congregate living (and they are included in the total case numbers and community transmission); 57 are inmates and employees; and three are in nursing homes or assisted-living centers.

Seven new positive cases of COVID-19 were reported in Saline County, raising the overall total to 505 confirmed positive cases. With nine deaths and 423 positive cases recovered- including five on Thursday- there are 73 active cases.

Three new cases of the virus were reported in Lafayette County on Thursday. The Lafayette County Health Department has confirmed 199 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. With 152 positive patients recovered and three deaths, there are 44 active cases in the county.

Three new positive cases were confirmed in Howard County on Thursday, raising its overall total to 76. With 53 positive cases recovered, there are 23 active cases, including one person hospitalized.

The Carroll County Health Department has confirmed 93 positive cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, including one on Thursday. To date, 88 of those cases have been released from observation, leaving five active cases.

Only two active cases of COVID-19 remain in Chariton County. Health-department officials say 21 of the 23 total positive cases have been released from observation.