Webster County surpassed 700 COVID-19 cases Friday, according to Webster County Public Health, ending the week at 701.

Webster County surged 510 positive cases over the month of July. On July 1, the county’s cases totaled 191.

Friday’s new total is an increase of 29 from Tuesday’s report. Public Health officials said that 360 cases are community-based, with another 341 positive prison inmates at Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. Of those, 317 and 283 have recovered, respectively.

Cases fall into the following age categories:

• Children (age 0-17): 33

• Adults (age 18-40): 371

• Middle-age adults (age 41-60): 205

• Older adults (age 61-80): 80

• Elderly adults (age 81+): 12

“Webster County Public Health’s biggest request of residents is to take the COVID-19 virus seriously and follow public health guidance including staying home: if you’re sick or not feeling well, if you’re awaiting test results or if you live with or have been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case,” said Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer. ” If you aren’t sure if your headache, runny nose, or cough are seasonal allergies or COVID-19, stay at home until you know for certain so that you aren’t potentially exposing others.”

Those with questions about exposure or symptoms are asked to call Webster County Public Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 515-227-7153 or email WebCoCOVID@webstercountyia.org.

Webster County Public Health’s recovery numbers differ from the Iowa Department of Public Health’s coronavirus website. Internally, WCPH calls all positive patients on day 10 of isolation to check on their condition, whether they’re symptomatic and fit CDC guidelines for recovery.

“The numbers that we are reporting are what we know to be true in our local communities and at the prison. The numbers at the state level reflects recoveries at the 28 day mark,” WCPH said in a statement.

The state considers COVID-19 positive patients to be recovered after 28 days.