The deaths of four more area residents due to complications associated with COVID-19 were reported by the Minnesota Department of Health since Friday, Oct. 23.

Saturday, one 85- to 89-year-old resident of Mille Lacs County and one 70- to 74-year-old resident of Morrison County were among the 14 newly reported deaths. On Sunday, the 22nd recorded Crow Wing County death was confirmed to be a resident between the ages of 60 and 64. And a Todd County resident, 70-74, was part of Monday’s death toll of four statewide, with all four reported as residents of long-term care.

The total number of cases in the seven-county region — Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Todd and Wadena — rose by 226 since Friday, with Crow Wing and Todd counties accounting for nearly half of those at 56 each. Crow Wing surpassed the 1,000 case-mark as of Sunday.

Between the area counties, a total of 19 congregate living facilities remain on the state’s list of those with exposures. Newly added to the list Friday were Edgewood Baxter, Bridgeway Estates in Little Falls, Birchview Gardens in Hackensack and Serenity Living Solutions in Remer. Those listed reported an exposure from a case of COVID-19 in a resident, staff person or visiting provider. Facilities may not have ongoing transmission, and those that have not reported a new exposure for a minimum of 28 days will be removed, the health department states. If a facility identifies a new exposure, it will once again be listed.

2 downtown Brainerd bars temporarily close

Two downtown Brainerd bars, Shep’s on 6th and 9th Street Social Club, are currently closed as of Monday for COVID-19-related reasons, according to their social media pages.

Shep’s on 6th first announced a closure for Friday due to staff exposures to others who’d received positive test results. The bar reported everyone returned a negative test result and reopened Saturday. But another closure announcement followed Sunday.

“Due to continuous Covid-19 concerns, we will be closed until further notice. Thank you for understanding during these times,” a post from Sunday afternoon stated.

In response to a question from a patron who’d said they’d recently visited the bar, further explanation was offered by Shep’s for the closure decision.

“While we were open last night, we got word of someone in our bar who was positive. We asked that individual to leave, and immediately shut down for the rest of our customers safety,” the comment stated. “All staff are getting Covid-19 tests, which is why we will be closed until further notice.”

A representative of Shep’s declined to comment further on the events of Saturday night.

One of the owners of 9th Street Social Club, Rob Lewis, announced he would be getting tested himself after beginning to experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19.

“Started feeling like I had a cold, aches, low fever and such at bedtime Saturday,” a Facebook post attributed to Lewis on the bar’s page stated, noting he felt the same Sunday. “Apparently was in contact with a positive case or two of covid. Getting tested this morning and 9th Street Social Club will be closed until further notice, pending results. Thanks for understanding, if you are feeling symptoms, STAY HOME.”

COVID-19 data as of Oct. 26

• Aitkin — 179 (+14 since Friday, Oct. 23), with two deaths.

• Cass — 377 (+20), with five deaths.

• Crow Wing — 1,036 (+56), with 22 (+1) deaths.

• Mille Lacs — 410 (+23), with 15 (+1) deaths.

• Morrison — 734 (+40), with nine (+1) deaths.

• Todd — 825 (+56), with six (+1) deaths.

• Wadena — 232 (+17), with three deaths.

NOTE: These numbers are cumulative since March 21 and many are out of isolation.