Newton County COVID-19 toll hits 500, more than 400 under isolation

It was a relatively quiet day on the COVID-19 front in Newton County with only eight confirmed cases added, but those eight lifted the county to a milestone it never wanted to reach- 500 cases.

The slow day, at least as far as new cases are concerned, was an exception to the recent rule. More than 80 percent of the cases have been diagnosed within the last couple of weeks, with 406 remaining under isolation, according to statistics posted this evening by the Newton County Health Department.

Four people remain hospitalized, while 175 people are currently under quarantine.

(Note: Newton County's statistics do not include the portion of the county that is located in the Joplin city limits.)