SALISBURY — Another death was reported at the Citadel nursing home on Monday along with 19 more positive COVID-19 cases Sunday and 10 more on Monday, bringing the local case count to 668.

The increase comes as the availability of testing sites has increased widely in recent weeks. Those added sites include West End Plaza, which held a testing event on Monday. There have been 3,637 tests reported in Rowan.

Of the positive cases, 266 are still positive, 386 have recovered and there are 38 deaths total, putting the county near the top in deaths per capita in the state. Wake County, the second most populous county in the state, has 39 cases.

All but two deaths in the county are connected to congregate living facilities, with 21 at the Citadel and 15 at the N.C. State Veterans Home.

The average age of people testing positive for COVID-19 in the county is 49.8, and the average age of people hospitalized is 65. There have been 54 total hospitalizations due to the disease in Rowan County, and there were just 9 on Monday.

Most infections locally are found in white people, 60.78%, 19.01% of cases have occurred among black Rowan Countians, 13.92% are of an unknown race, 5.69 are labeled “other,” 0.45% are Asian and 0.15% are American Indians or Alaskan Native. About 26% of people who have tested positive are Hispanic.

People 18 and younger represent the smallest portion of confirmed positive tests, only 29, while people 65 and older tested positive are the most, 184.

The Rowan County’s Public Health Command Center released a statement Monday saying it is continually stressing the importance of wearing facemasks to protect others, even if someone does not believe they have the virus.

“While people who are sick or know that they have COVID-19 should isolate at home, COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. In addition to wearing masks, it’s important for everyone to practice social distancing,” the county said.

Social distancing includes staying at least 6 feet away from others and wearing face masks to prevent respiratory droplets from traveling in public settings. Cloth face coverings provide an extra layer to help prevent the respiratory droplets from traveling onto other people.

Three more deaths in the state were reported on Sunday, the lowest one-day increase since April 6. There are a total of 898 deaths in the state.