STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - Oktibbeha County saw 79 new coronavirus cases in the state health department’s report Friday.

As of Friday, May 29, the state health department has confirmed 233 total cases in the county and 11 total deaths.

Open this link to view the cases, deaths, recoveries in Mississippi.

The OCH Critical Care Specialist gave some reasons why the cases have increased.

Dr. Cameron Huxford attributed the spike in cases in Oktibbeha County to an outbreak at a long-term care facility. Currently, OCH has eight coronavirus patients in the hospital and they are all residents of a long-term care facility.

Oktibbeha County EMA Director Kristen Campanella expected the number of cases to spike after the Memorial Day holiday, but she was surprised by how high the spike was.

She also said more testing could be the reason for more confirmed cases, especially in long-term care facilities.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center conducted testing for the virus Thursday at the Oktibbeha County Safe Room on Lynn Lane.

Campanella said results from Thursday’s tests are not included in Friday's numbers. She said those results should come back in two to three days.