December 22, 2022 3:40 a.m.

Local COVID-19 cases rose 27 percent in the past week.

An update from the Douglas Public Health Network said 97 cases were reported in the week ending Wednesday. That compares with 76 the prior week.

5 local residents died related to COVID-19 in the last seven days. DPHN Public Information Officer Vanessa Becker said they ranged from 73 to 87 years of age. 2 were men and 33 were women. Becker said DPHN is encouraging residents to get the new bivalent vaccine as it is still showing great protection from hospitalization and death. She said none of the deaths last week were up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines.

In the past week hospitalizations related to COVID-19 ranged from 11-13.

Since the pandemic began in January of 2020, 450 county residents have died related to COVID-19. 25,444 cases of the virus have been reported.

Go to www.douglaspublichealthnetwork.org for more local information about COVID-19.