(KMZA)--The Nemaha County Commission in a special meeting Wednesday approved the hiring of extra help for the county health officer.

Due to a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, Health Officer Heaven Schuette told commissioners she would like to hire Anna Knapp to help out in her office while the numbers in the county remain high.

Knapp will be a relief employee for the county.  She started work Wednesday at a salary of $18 an hour.

Schuette's office on Wednesday reported 82 active coronavirus cases in the county, with three hospitalized. That's up from 72 active cases on January 12.

Her office also reported four additional COVID-related deaths, bringing the total to 61 since the pandemic began.