More than a handful of COVID-19-related deaths were reported in an area county on Friday, December 18.

According to health-department officials, in Cooper County, seven deaths raise the county’s total to 15 since the beginning of the pandemic.

Officials say, “We expect the number to rise to 19 as we have four more cases under review. These cases have occurred over the past 60 days. Health information is carefully reviewed before a death is reported publicly as COVID-19-related. The age range for the deaths is 29 to 89.”

In Pettis County, 40 more positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed, raising its total to 3,902. With 3,260 previously positive patients listed as recovered and 49 deaths, there are 593 active cases in the county, including 20 positive patients hospitalized.

According to the Saline County Health Department’s COVID-19 Dashboard, 19 more positive cases were confirmed, raising the county’s total to 2,059. With 1,890 recoveries and 40 deaths, there are 129 active cases.

Over the two-day period of Thursday, December 17, and Friday, the total positive case count rose by 16 to 886 in Howard County. With 16 more recoveries, increasing the county’s total to 816, and four deaths, the active case count remained at 66, including three persons hospitalized.

Five new positive cases were reported in Chariton County, increasing its total to 571. Due to nine more recoveries- upping that total to 518- and 15 deaths, there are 38 active cases in the county.

Updates were not available from Carroll and Lafayette Counties.