A total of 146 Webster County residents were diagnosed with COVID-19 and five more have died of the disease since Webster County Public Health last provided an update on Monday.

This brings Webster County’s cumulative case total to 4,357.

The death toll for the county is now 47.

Currently, 204 local residents’ cases are open, have been contact traced and individuals placed into isolation.

Webster County’s 14-day positivity rate, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, is 18%.

“Five more residents of Webster County have died and 146 more diagnosed with COVID-19,” said Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer for Webster County Public Health. “We continue to plead with residents to not gather in groups, to wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and stay home when you’re sick or awaiting test results. Our local case numbers are not decreasing. Our health care, public health, and skilled nursing facilities are stressed. We need residents to take this public health emergency seriously.”

Webster County Public Health, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asked residents to forgo Thanksgiving gatherings for virtual meet-ups instead with the hope of curbing future exposures. Public Health is now asking residents to also plan for virtual Christmas and New Year’s celebrations as COVID positive cases and exposures continue to increase.

If you did gather with a group of people from outside of your home for Thanksgiving, please self-monitor for COVID symptoms and contact your medical provider should you feel that testing is needed.

Due to the number of COVID cases and the need for testing, it may take time to get a testing appointment. Testing is available at multiple sites throughout Webster County including the following:

• UnityPoint Health: If you have any questions, concerns or are experiencing COVID symptoms, call your primary care provider and UnityPoint Health staff will direct you to where you need to be in order to be seen.

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

• Iowa Specialty Clinic: Call ahead for COVID-19 rapid testing. Patient must be symptomatic. Call 515-955-6767.

• Webster County Public Health: WCPH is not a testing site. WCPH analyzes and acts on the testing information provided by medical providers and then provides CDC guidance and contact tracing.

Hy-Vee Pharmacy, 115 S. 29th St., will begin offering rapid antigen COVID-19 testing on Monday. To schedule a test, go to www.hy-vee.com/covidtesting.

If you are awaiting test results, it is imperative to self-quarantine until you know the results of your COVID test.