BROWN COUNTY — COVID-19 has claimed the life of another Brown County resident, a person in their late 60s, according to Brown County Public Health.

The death was reported Wednesday, along with 11 new laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19, ranging in age from under 4 to in their 60s.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases 1,944, with 98 active cases in isolation, 1,819 recovered cases, according to the Dec. 23 situation update.

Brown County Public Health received limited doses of the Moderna vaccine, and will begin the process of distributing it and vaccinating individuals according to the recommended distribution plan. It is focusing on healthcare workers, long term care staff, and residents, emergency response services, and public health staff.

“As Brown County Public Health continues to receive vaccine we will move through the phased priority groups and will communicate this plan as we move along,” according to an announcement Wednesday.

“Vaccine is one way to help us get ahead in the pandemic,” said Brown County Public Health Director, Karen Moritz.

Brown County Public Health staff has been trained to handle Moderna’s vaccine as it does require specific handling and storage. All of Brown County Public Health’s vaccination team has been trained on proper handling, storage, administration, and providing education regarding the vaccine.

Brown County Public Health has started to post a Brown County COVID -19 dashboard, updated every Monday with expanded information.

There were 181 confirmed COVID-19 cases age 20-24 in Brown County, according to the dashboard. There were 150 cases age 55-59, 146 age 15-19, 137 age 45-49, 136 age 25-29, 132 age 60-64, 131 age 40-44, 123 ages 35-39, 123 age 50-54, 115 age 30-34, 105 65-69.

Brown County confirmed 1,041 COVID-19 cases in November, 509 in December and 167 in October.

New Ulm has more than half of Brown County’s COVID-19 cases at 54.73%. Following are Sleepy Eye 25.43%, Springfield 12.17%, Hanska 3.55%, Comfrey 3.13% and other locations 0.99%.

The Renville County Public Health Dashboard reported 1,256 December COVID cases, 900 in November, 38 cumulative deaths, 135 active cases this week, compared to 234 cases last week.

There were 220 cases reported in Olivia, 205 in Fairfax, Renville 188, Hector 135, Bird Island 103, Buffalo Lake 86, Franklin 79, and Danube 60.

McLeod County has reported 2,983 COVID-19 cases, Nicollet County 1,984, Redwood County 1,275, Watonwan County 1,021, and Sibley County 973.