MARSHALL — Positive cases of COVID-19 continued to rise across Minnesota on Thursday, and the Minnesota Department of Health reported a new one-day record of 72 deaths statewide. The newly-reported deaths included a Lyon County resident in their 80s. This marks the 10th COVID-19 death reported in the county.

The report came on the same day that county commissioners from across a six-county region of southwest Minnesota urged community members to take personal responsibility for slowing the spread of coronavirus.

On Thursday, commissioners from Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood and Rock Counties — which make up the service area of Southwest Health and Human Services — signed a public appeal for community action. The six counties have “dangerously high” community transmission rates of COVID-19, they said.

“Reducing community spread is critical. We all simply must do better,” said the statement, which was signed by county commissioners including Rick Anderson and Charlie Sanow of Lyon County.

There have been 58 COVID-19 related deaths in the six counties served by SWHHS, the commissioners’ statement said.

“Higher rates of virus transmission in the community increase the risk for all members of your community,” the statement said. The rise in cases overloads hospitals and health care providers, reduces the availability of hospital beds and supplies, and puts health care providers, long-term care workers and residents at serious risk.

“When community spread is this significant, all workforces are inevitably affected due to exposure or illness. We need all citizens and employers to take aggressive action to stop the spread of COVID-19,” the statement said.

Commissioners urged area employers and residents to follow health guidelines, including wearing a mask around other people, maintaining social distance, avoiding social gatherings, and getting tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or are a close contact with a COVID-19 positive person.

A total of 1,702 Lyon County residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

The MDH reported a statewide total of 7,877 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday. According to Minnesota’s COVID-19 dashboard, there were 1,384 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Wednesday, plus an additional 367 COVID-19 patients in intensive care.