Pocahontas County marked its first COVID-19 death Monday, the fourth county in The Messenger’s coverage area to do so since the pandemic descended on Iowa.

The death comes even as the county’s case load remains lower than most of its neighbors.

Pocahontas County now has 38 cases of COVID-19, over half of which have been identified in June. Their first case was identified April 25, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. Six of those cases (15%) have recovered as of Monday.

The age category of the first victim could not be identified prior to press time Monday. The death was not acknowledged on Pocahontas County Public Health’s social media or web pages.

Humboldt and Webster counties each have one COVID-19 death. Buena Vista County has 10.

Webster County gained 12 new cases over the weekend, bringing its total to 126 by the end of Monday. Hamilton County gained 18, bringing its total to 168. Wright County gained 16, bringing its total to 335.