As 2020 came to a close Thursday, Webster County celebrated a new year with at least 64 fewer residents, all lost to COVID-19.

The death increases over the last week have kept almost the same pace with the rate of increases through most of November and December.

Since Nov. 6 alone, 47 people have been killed by the coronavirus.

Webster County Public Health also reported 143 new infection cases since its last update over a week ago, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 4,755. Of those, 156 remain open under monitoring.

Webster County’s 14-day positivity rate has decreased substantially from its height at over 20% in recent weeks, but remains elevated at 13.7%.

Like recent holidays, WCPH will work throughout New Year’s Day and the weekend to contact trace positive cases. The department asks the public to answer all phone calls from 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. CHC will be closed on Friday in observance of New Year’s Day but will reopen Saturday. Their Fort Dodge site offers dual testing for both COVID-19 and influenza at 2031 Quail Avenue. Appointments can also be scheduled at chcfd.com.

• 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.