BROWN COUNTY — Brown County COVID-19 cases jumped from 112 on Friday, Aug. 28, to 129 on Monday, Aug. 31.

As of Monday, Brown County had 129 confirmed COVID-19 cases, nine total hospitalizations, 18 active cases in isolation, 109 total recovered cases and two COVID-19-related deaths.

On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported three new COVID-19 cases in Brown County, five new cases in Nicollet and Watonwan Counties, and one each in Sibley County and Redwood County.

The MDH reported the most cases in the 20-24 year-old age group, with 10,040 cases. The 25-29 age group had 7,644 cases, and 30-34 age group had 7,086 cases.

There was a discrepancy in the Brown County Public Health (BCPH) case numbers and the number on the Minnesota Department of Health residence map. Two previous cases assigned to Brown County were removed and reassigned, according to BCPH.

Brown County reported five new laboratory confirmed cases Sunday. One case in their 60s, two in their 40s, one in their 20s and one in their teens. All are recovering at home.

Brown County reported 3 new laboratory-confirmed cases Monday. Cases are in their teens, 20s and 30s. All are recovering at home.

After further investigation, 2 more cases were reassigned and have been removed from Brown County case numbers.

Brown County Public Health Director Karen Moritz said 44% of the new county cases were reportedly caused by people attending community events or from family contact.

“There is no pattern or specific community or event but there are public and private events in which people are not necessarily following MDH guidance of wearing masks in doors or maintaining social distancing,” Moritz said. “Then they come home and spread it to their families and others. It’s important we follow guidance as best we can, or the chances of children going to school healthy goes down. People need to mask indoors unless they’re eating, or this will spread.”

Moritz said some people find it difficult to continue to follow mask wearing and social distancing guidance, but it has to happen, to keep students learning in classrooms.

She said the August case spike was due to a variety of contacts and events, many of which were out of Brown County.

Moritz said COVID-19 is becoming more widespread in rural Minnesota communities.

Free testing for anyone wishing to be tested, whether or not they have symptoms, will be done from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 2-3, at Myers Field House, 190 Stadium Rd., Minnesota State University, Mankato. Insurance is not needed.

Registration can be done at https://www.primarybio.com/r/blueearth. For more information, visit ps://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsite. Hmong, Spanish and Somali interpreters are available. Call 1-855-612-0677 if you need a translator.

“The State of Minnesota does regional testing when there is a case spike. Our region is part of that,” Moritz said.

She said the case number difference between Brown County Public Health and MDH sometimes happens because state address data may be out of date.

For more information, visit health.state.mn.us.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.