The weekly new case rates for COVID-19 in area counties were all in the “high” or “substantial” range when the Kansas Department of Health and Environment released its weekly update on Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Statewide, there were 3,045 new cases and five new deaths related to COVID-19 reported from the previous Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The weekly new cases rate covers the period from Nov. 12-18, omitting more recent days where the data is not complete. A “high” incidence rate means there were 100 or more new cases per 100,000 people and a “substantial” rate means there were 50-99 new cases per 100,000.

Here are the new case numbers and rates for area counties:

• Barton 24; 93.1 per 100,000

• Ellsworth 5; 89.1

• Pawnee, 14; 218.3

• Rice 13; 136.3

• Rush 2; 65.9

• Russell 7; 102.1

• Stafford 4; 96.2