POLSON — COVID-19 cases are rising in the Mission Valley with Lake County seeing their highest number of active cases since the pandemic began.
Lake County health officials were reporting 167 active cases with seven COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Thursday.
Health officials also announced that a fifth Lake County resident has passed away from complications due to the infection.
Lake County Health Services Director Emily Colomeda says the county continues to see an increase in COVID-19 testing, with test result times varying from 24 hours to four-to-five days.
Colomeda added that a high number of confirmed positive cases are coming out of the Polson-area where community spread is untraceable.
“We’re not necessarily seeing spread in the schools. These cases that are related to schools are happening outside of the school right now,” Colomeda explained.
“People are really struggling to determine that they definitely got exposed at a certain place, we just know I think it’s just everywhere right now,” she added.
Colomeda is urging Lake County residents to avoid large social gatherings and to stay home if they are feeling sick.