COVID-19 cases continued to climb in Gloucester and Mathews counties during the past week, with Gloucester adding 66 cases, for a total of 748 thus far, and Mathews adding 28 cases, for a total of 275.

Two more Gloucester residents died from COVID-19 this past week, for a total of seven deaths in the county, while a second Mathews resident has died from the virus.

Cumulative hospitalizations in the two counties were up slightly, with three added in Gloucester, for a total of 27, and one added in Mathews, for a total of 14.

In Middlesex, the number of cases increased by 27, for a total of 246, with hospitalizations increasing by three, for a total of 14, and the number of deaths remaining the same, at 11.

In his weekly report on Monday, Dr. Richard Williams, director of the Three Rivers Health District, described the virus as “raging across the globe” and continuing to compromise hospitals regionally in the U.S., with a lack of beds and critical resources. He said the pande...