LIBERTY – COVID-19 cases in Clay and Ray counties, and across the state and nation, continue to rise, though there are moderation signs nationally and in the Northland. Nationally, new cases rose by 2.8% from last week to this week and the trend line over the past few weeks is down, though nearly 3,718 additional deaths in the past six days remains a fact health experts continue to try to reduce. The number of Ray County cases in the previous week rose by nine, or 7.7%, to 125 cases with no deaths. The number this week rose by eight, or 6.4%, with no deaths. Another Northland county, Clay, also showed a decrease in cases. In last week’s report, the number of new cases rose by 103, or 8.8%, over the previous week. This week, the number rose by 100, or 7%. The number of deaths last week increased by three versus two this week. Moderating numbers in Clay and Ray counties do not alleviated metro area concerns, with people still dying and still getting ill, and with activities being…