(KLZA)--There was a slight increase in the number of COVID-19 cases confirmed in the five-county Southeast District Health Department area January 31 – February 6.  

There were 73 newly confirmed cases in the area compared to  68 the previous week. 

43 of the new cases were in Otoe County which now has had 1,255 confirmed cases with eight deaths reported.

There were six new cases in Richardson County,  nine in Pawnee County,  seven in Nemaha County and eight in Johnson County. 

Within the district there have been 50 deaths due to COVID-19 since the pandemic began.  18 of  those deaths have been reported in Richardson County.