Webster County Public Health (WCPH) reported 141 new cases of COVID-19 in the last week, as nine more people died from the virus in the county.

The county’s cumulative case count is now 4,498. With the new cases, WCPH said there were 194 open cases being monitored on Friday. The county has seen 14 deaths in the last 15 days.

Though death and case increases have remained consistent over the last few weeks, the county’s rolling 14-day positivity rate did decrease from over 20% to 16.1%, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

COVID-19 testing remains available at multiple sites in Webster County, including the following:

• UnityPoint Health: Call your primary care provider.

• Community Health Center of Fort Dodge: Call ahead to 515-576-6500 for urgent, routine or COVID-19 rapid testing to make an appointment.

• Iowa Specialty Clinic: Call ahead to 515-955-6767 for COVID-19 rapid testing. Patients at the Iowa Specialty Clinic must be symptomatic to receive testing.

Webster County Public Health does not conduct testing, but analyzes and acts on the testing information provided by medical providers before implementing U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and contact tracing as necessary.

The agency asks those without health insurance in need of testing to advise their scheduler when making an appointment. If you are awaiting test results, the public health department said it is imperative to self-quarantine until receipt of the test results.

Webster County Public Health’s COVID Hotline remains available to residents with questions regarding COVID-19 including quarantine, isolation guidance and exposures. The hotline is available by phone at 515-227-7153 or via email at WebCoCOVID@WebsterCountyIA.org.