Public Health department encourages all eligible individuals to seek vaccination 11:12 am, May 16, 2021 × A nurse holds a syringe containing a coronavirus vaccine made by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, a unit of Sinopharm subsidiary China National Biotec Group (CNBG), at a vaccination center during a government-organized visit, in Beijing, China, April 15, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo REGIONAL — The number of new cases of COVID-19 around southwest Minnesota dropped significantly Sunday, as only three cases were added in the six-county region. Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counties reported one new case each of COVID-19, according to Sunday morning's update from the Minnesota Department of Health, while Cottonwood, Jackson and Murray counties all had no new cases.