The death toll from COVID-19 is nearing 50 in an area county.

According to health-department officials, in Pettis County, two more COVID-19-related deaths on Thursday, December 17, raise its total to 49 since the beginning of the pandemic. In addition, 36 more positive patients were confirmed, increasing the county’s total to 3,862. With 3,210 previously positive patients listed as recovered and 49 deaths, there are 603 active cases of the virus in the county, including 20 positive patients hospitalized.

In Lafayette County, two more deaths were added since its last update on December 10. Those raise the county’s total to 40. Also, there have been 89 new positive cases, increasing the county’s total to 1,687. With 40 deaths and 1,413 recoveries, there are currently 234 active cases in the county.

One more death was reported in Howard County, upping its total to four. A total of 16 new positive cases of the virus were reported in the county on Tuesday, December 15, and Wednesday, December 16. That raises the county’s total to 879. With 811 recoveries and four deaths, there are 64 active cases.

According to the Saline County Health Department’s Dashboard, 28 more positive cases were added on Thursday, upping the county’s total to 2,040. With 1,889 recoveries and 40 deaths, there are 111 active cases in the county.

In Chariton County, seven new positive cases raised its total to 566. Due to a total of 509 recoveries and 15 deaths, there are 42 active cases.

Updates were not available from Carroll and Cooper Counties.