While most Kansas counties continue to post a “high” weekly rate for new cases of COVID-19, some have dropped below that threshold of 100 or more cases per 100,000 people. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment released its weekly COVID update on Wednesday, showing Pawnee County had a “substantial” new case rate (50-99 cases per 100,000) and Edwards County had a “moderate” rate (10-49 cases per 100,000).

Statewide, as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, there were 5,748 new cases and 61 new COVID-related deaths reported since Wednesday, August 24. That brought the total number of deaths over the course of the pandemic to 9,019. KDHE noted that the large increase in deaths was due to the records reconciliation process and did not necessarily reflect a recent increase in deaths.

The weekly new case rate is for the period starts Aug. 20 and ending Aug. 26. The most recent five days are not included as data is expected to be incomplete.

Here are the weekly new case totals for area counties:

• Barton 50

• Edwards 1

• Ellsworth 18

• Pawnee 6

• Rice 17

• Rush 5

• Russell 13

• Stafford 12