While pandemic numbers have been steadily decreasing locally and statewide over the past few weeks, COVID-19 deaths in the tri-county area have continued to occur.

Six Gloucester residents, one Mathews resident, and two Middlesex residents lost their lives to the virus during the past week, bringing the total number of COVID deaths in the three localities to 74, 21, and 29, respectively, since the pandemic began.

Case numbers looked hopeful in the three counties, with Gloucester adding just 43 cases, for a total of 3,809; Mathews adding eight, for a total of 879; and Middlesex increasing by 14, for a total of 937 cases of the virus since March 2020.

One Gloucester resident was hospitalized with COVID-19 during the past week, for a total of 91 hospitalizations in 19 months, while Middlesex added one, for a total of 33, and Mathews added none, leaving the total at 29.

The Three Rivers Health District as a whole had 241 new cases between last Wednesday and this Wednesday, wel...