As new cases of COVID-19 have taken a sharp upturn as the Delta variant has made its way across the country, Wright County has been no exception. After two months of almost stagnant numbers in terms of new cases, Wright County experienced its second week with more than 100 new cases – reporting 132 new cases last week, bringing the county total to 16,824 – after reporting less than 1,100 new cases for May, June and July combined. There were nine hospitalizations reported last week, three cases that required care in an Intensive Care Unit and two deaths, bringing the county’s total to 16,824 cases, 715 cases that required hospitalization, 140 cases that required a stay in an Intensive Care Unit ad 155 deaths. In June and July combined, only three Wright County cases required a stay in an ICU. Over the last two weeks, nine cases have required ICU admission. Minnesota Department of Health data showed Wright County had a positivity rate of 7.7 percent in the last reporting period (Aug. 12) – well above the state average of 5.9 percent. Only 10 of Minnesota’s 87 counties had a higher positivity rate than Wright County in the last reporting period.