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An assisted living facility in Stanford has seen an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases this week, according to the Lincoln County Health Department.

“We have 26 cases from Stanford Care and Rehab and three are hospitalized,” said LCHD Director Diane Miller on Tuesday. “Those that are hospitalized we monitor every day to determine what their status is medically.”

Miller said the three hospitalized individuals are being monitored daily, as well as four others who were previously reported to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

“So in total, we’re monitoring seven cases,” she said.

The rest of the previously reported positive cases are considered recovered and out of quarantine, Miller said.

The increase in cases is a good indication that this virus has not gone away, she said.

“As we open up, we still need to keep those control measures in place,” she said. “Let’s not get too lax in what we’re doing. Just because the economy has opened up doesn’t mean the virus has gone away because it is here, and I think that it will be here for a while.”

Those control measures include wearing masks in public, social distancing, washing hands and disinfecting common household areas and items daily.

Calls to the Stanford Care and Rehabilitation facility were not returned by press time Tuesday, however, the facility provides a recorded statement regarding COVID-19.

“Stanford Care and Rehabilitation is taking precautionary measures following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address the spread of the Coronavirus disease COVID-19,” the automated recording states. “Stanford Care and Rehabilitation will continue to monitor the situation and update procedures as new information comes in from the CDC and state Department of Health. For the most up to date information, follow us on Facebook or visit www.stanfordcarecenter.com“