Webster County Public Health confirmed four new COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing the total to 32 cases as Iowa’s statewide death toll eclipsed 500 Thursday morning.

The new cases in Webster County added one child (age 0-17), two adults (age 18-40) and one middle age adult (age 41-60) to the tally. One case has been moved to another county after a complete contact tracing investigation.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases fall into the following age categories:

• Child (age 0-17): 3

• Adult (age 18-40): 11

• Middle age adult (age 41-60): 12

• Older adult (age 61-80): 6

WCPH officials confirm details of each case reported and conduct contact tracing. Some cases can be misattributed to a county for a variety of reasons, such as a recent move or transient living circumstances.

“Moving a patient’s case file is not uncommon as sometimes patients have moved to a new physical address or listed a different address on paperwork,” said Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer for WCPH. “This is always found by our nurses as part of the rigorous disease investigation process.”

A total of 16 cases have recovered since their diagnosis, up two from Wednesday.

In Wright County, another 11 cases brought the total to 145 positives as surveillance testing efforts continue with the county’s larger employers. Testing is likely to continue into next week. Twenty positive residents have recovered, with no deaths so far.

In Wright County, 1,140 residents have been tested since April, about 9% of the county’s population. In Webster County, 1,434 residents have been tested, about 4% of the county’s population.

Statewide, the case count totaled 18,585 by the end of Thursday after over 200 new cases were added. By press time Thursday, another 18 deaths brought Iowa’s death toll to 506.

Webster County residents are reminded to continue social distancing, wash hands for at least 20 seconds each time, cover coughs and sneezes, wear a mask and sanitize surfaces that are touched often.

WCPH advises those over the age of 65 or those who are medically vulnerable to remain at home as much as possible, making trips only for essential items.