7 more COVID cases in 2 days

After print editions of the paper were published, five new cases of COVID-19 were reported Thursday and two new cases on Wednesday.

The county’s total number of cases is now 179. That translates to a countywide infection rate of 15.1 cases per 1,000 residents, an increase of 2.0 in the past seven days.

Counties with infection rate increases of 1.0 or more over seven days are classified federally as “red zones.” Visitors to such counties may be required by some localities to quarantine after returning from those areas.

Among the 179 patients, 25 were being treated or exhibiting symptoms of the virus as of Wednesday evening, and one was hospitalized, according to the Marion County Health Department.

The new cases include:

• Thursday — Two men in their 60s, a woman in her 60s, and man in his 50s, and a teenage boy.

• Wednesday — A women in her 20s and a man in his 60s.

In the past 14 days, a total of 41 cases have been reported: 8 teens, 6 in their 20s, 2 in their 30s, 1 in his 40s, 6 in their 50s, 7 in their 60s, 8 in their 70s, 2 in their 80s, and 1 in her 90s.