For the third straight day, the Mississippi State Department of Health has reported new COVID-19 cases of more than 2,000.

MSDH announced 2,327 new positive test results Friday, recorded as of 6 p.m. Thursday. Forty-one new deaths were reported, and 216 current outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

LTC facilities like nursing homes are considered high risk locations because their residents are older or in poor health. A single confirmed COVID-19 infection in an LTC facility resident, or more than one infection in employees or staff in a 14-day period constitutes an outbreak.

Lincoln County has had 2,162 cases — 17 more than one day earlier. The county’s death total of 71 remains unchanged, as do the 166 LTC facility cases and 36 LTC facility deaths.

The state has recorded 175,282 cases of the coronavirus — 131,924 confirmed and 43,358 probable — and 4,124 deaths — 3,493 confirmed and 631 probable.

Confirmed cases and deaths are generally determined by positive PCR tests, which detect the presence of ongoing coronavirus infection.

Probable cases are those who test positive by other testing methods such as antibody or antigen, and have recent symptoms consistent with COVID-19, indicating a recent infection.

Probable deaths are those individuals with a designation of COVID-19 as a cause of death on the death certificate, but where no confirmatory testing was performed.

MSDH presumes 136,627 people to have recovered statewide from the virus as of Dec. 6.

Testing

Testing is available in Brookhaven at King’s Daughters Medical Center. The COVID screening site is located behind the Emergency Room and will be open to the public 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 601-835-9455 to make an appointment.

Testing is also available for those without health insurance, on Mondays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. outside the Lincoln County Health Department, 1212 Northpark Lane NE, Brookhaven. Interested persons should call 601-496-7200 before arriving. Testing is also available this week Wednesday-Friday.

To find more testing facilities in the state, visit HealthyMS.com and click on “Getting Tested.”