(KAIR)--The number of active cases of COVID-19 is up in Jackson County over last week and the county is reporting its first two confirmed cases of the new Omicron variant.

According to statistics released Wednesday by the Jackson County Office of Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health, the county has 117 active cases. That's up from 104 active cases reported on December 22.

Jackson County is reporting one additional COVID-related death since last week, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 21.

The Delta variant continues to be the prominent coronavirus strain in the county.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Jackson County has had 2,672 total positive coronavirus cases.

An anticipated increase in Kansas holiday-season coronavirus testing is a reality for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, with the state agency hoping that will continue as the delta and omicron variants continue to spread in the state. WIBW-TV reports that Deputy State Health Officer Dr. Joan Duwve says the state’s mass testing sits have not exceeded capacity, despite the rise in testing. She told the TV station she attributes the increase to people understanding that to be with family and friends during the holiday season, testing is key to keep such gatherings safe.

The state saw more than 7,000 new coronavirus cases from Monday to Wednesday of this week. Nearly 2,600 of those occurred Tuesday, which WIBW reports is “the highest one-day total since November 30,” the Tuesday that followed Thanksgiving.

On Wednesday, KDHE data showed that 45 cases involving the highly tranmissible omicron variant are now identified in Kansas. Two cases are confirmed locally in Jackson County, three in Leavenworth County, and one in Nemaha County.

Testing site information can be found online at KnowBeforeYouGoKS.com.