In the last seven days, 363 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Franklin County. There were 494 new cases reported the previous week. This week in the Gerald area, eight new cases were reported, compared to 12 new cases reported last week. Cases in Beaufort and Leslie also dropped. Beaufort had nine new cases this past week, compared to 17 the week before. Leslie had eight new cases two weeks ago and seven last week.

Franklin County has been under a mask mandate since Nov. 19. This is the first week that has not seen a steady climb in the county’s positivity rate.

No new deaths were reported this week, although there is a significant lag between the date of death and time it’s reported. The death toll remains at 94.

Hospitalizations are down from 23 at the start of the week to 21 in the latest report from Monday. Positive cases in long-term care facilities rose from 45 at the end of last week to 56 currently. Both numbers are an improvement from the 100 cases noted on Dec. 1.

The county-wide mask mandate is set to expire next Sunday, Dec. 20, at noon. With the significant slow-down in the virus’s spread, it is possible that Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker will extend the mandate beyond that date.