Four of the five counties in the immediate KMMO listening area giving COVID-19 updates included more virus-related deaths on Wednesday, December 9.

According to health-department officials, in Saline County, two new deaths were reported- each was an 86-year-old male. Those raise the death total to 36 since the beginning of the pandemic. There were 24 new positive cases confirmed, increasing the county’s total to 1,911. With 1,737 positive patients released from public health isolation as recovered – including 13 on Wednesday – and 36 deaths, there are 138 active cases in the county, including nine positive patients hospitalized.

In Pettis County, two more deaths were reported, raising its total to 39. The positive case count grew by 13 from 3,658 on Tuesday to 3,671 on Wednesday. With 2,774 recoveries and 39 deaths, there are 858 active cases in the county, including 22 persons hospitalized.

Two more COVID-19-related deaths were reported in Chariton County, upping its total to 10. Six new positive cases of the virus were confirmed, raising that total to 521. Due to 10 deaths and 394 recoveries, there are 117 active cases in the county.

Over the past two days in Howard County, there were 10 positive patients added, however 15 previously positive patients were listed as recovered. Overall, there have been 830 total positive cases. With 775 recoveries and three deaths, there are 52 active cases, including six positive patients hospitalized.

The Lafayette County Health Department reported an increase of 93 new positive cases of COVID-19 and five additional deaths in the last week. As of Thursday, there have been 1,598 total confirmed cases of the virus reported and a total of 38 deaths in Lafayette County since the start of the pandemic. With the additional cases reported on Thursday, there are currently 214 active cases in the county.

Updates were not available from Carroll, and Cooper Counties.