The Muskingum County Joint Unified Command Center is reporting a sixth COVID-19 death of a local resident.

The notice comes as the county continues to observe an increase in cases in long-term care facilities.

The Unified Command is also reporting that they are tracking an uptick in cases related to local businesses, factories, schools and athletes as well as cases at large weddings and parties.

The sixth registered COVID-19 death was of an 86-year-old whose gender and identity are being withheld due to HIPAA regulations.

According to the Command Center, that individual died due to “COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.”

As reported by Y-City News last week, the fifth COVID-19 death was recorded on Friday, October 16 of a 36-year-old resident.

The Command Center is also reporting that an additional 20 Muskingum County residents have tested positive for the Coronavirus.

Due to the increased warnings, county residents are recommended to decrease in-person interactions with others, consider only necessary travel and limit attending gatherings of any number.

Muskingum County remains at a Level 3 Red Public Health Emergency as categorized by the Ohio Department of Health.

However, according to Dr. Jack Butterfield, Safety Officer for the Unified Command, Muskingum County is currently only triggering two of the seven indicators which affect the county’s COVID-19 alert level status.

Butterfield urges the public to continue to be diligent about their health and to limit their interactions with others a much as possible while also maintaining to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

To date, there have been 880 confirmed cases, 19 probable cases, 899 total cases, 143 active cases, 12 current hospitalizations, 97 total hospitalizations and 6 deaths.