Six Gloucester residents lost their lives to COVID-19 during the past week, bringing the total number of deaths in the county to 24, double the number of deaths of two weeks ago. Mathews saw one additional death over the week, for a total of six, while the number of Middlesex deaths remained the same, at 15.

New COVID-19 cases continue to be identified locally, as well. In Gloucester, the rate of rise has slowed, with 138 new cases identified during the past week, compared to 151 last week and 174 the week before. Two Gloucester patients were hospitalized during the past week, for a total of 40 since the pandemic began.

Mathews added 25 new cases during the week, for a total of 415, while the number of hospitalizations remained the same, at 16. In Middlesex, the case count increased by 37, for a total of 397, and there were two new hospitalizations, for a total of 18 since March.

The Three Rivers Health District has recorded 94 deaths from the virus, with 12 of them during th...