More than one-third of the confirmed COVID-19 cases so far in Crow Wing County were reported in August.

The month accounted for 117 cases of the county’s 312 total, as of Tuesday, Sept. 1. That amounts to 37.5% of all confirmed cases among county residents since the first two were confirmed five months ago on March 31. Three of the county’s 16 deaths were also reported in August.

August was a busy month for case confirmations in nearly all area counties. In Aitkin, Cass and Mille Lacs counties, case totals nearly doubled, while in Wadena County, cases more than doubled during the month. Morrison reported 36 in August, which is 30.25% of its 119 confirmed cases. Todd saw the smallest increase compared to its reported total — 8% of the county’s 451 cases came in August. The majority of cases in Todd occurred in May, when spread among employees of meatpacking facilities exploded.

Still, overall per capita rates of positive cases among north-central Minnesota counties generally lag behind metropolitan counties and those in southwestern Minnesota. Nearby Stearns and Kandiyohi counties also have higher cumulative case rates than the state average of 131 per 10,000 people. Of local counties, just Todd County is higher than the state average with 183 cases per 10,000.

COVID-19 data as of Sept. 1

• Aitkin — 51 (+3 since Monday, Aug. 31), with one death. August cases totaled 24.

• Cass — 105 (+0), with three deaths. August cases totaled 51.

• Crow Wing — 312 (+3), with 16 deaths. August cases totaled 117.

• Mille Lacs — 101 (-1), with three deaths. August cases totaled 47.

• Morrison — 119 (+2), with one death. August cases totaled 36.

• Todd — 451 (+2), with two deaths. August cases totaled 36.

• Wadena — 49 (+0). August cases totaled 26.

NOTE: These numbers are cumulative since March 21 and many are out of isolation. The number of those no longer needing isolation is not reported on a county-level basis by the state.