This morning, the Minnesota Department of Health confirmed two presumptive positive COVID-19 cases in Martin County, a person in their 50’s and a person in their 60’s who are both hospitalized.
The MDH reports there are now 77 cases in Minnesota as of March 18. 2,762 people have been tested.
In preparation for events such as the COVID-19 outbreak, Public Health uses levels of response. The first, containment, focuses on isolation, contact identification and quarantine. The second phase, community mitigation, considers actions such as school closings, canceling of large community events, and promoting virtual or video faith and other services. Public Health urges the community to continue implementing mitigation strategies to slow transmission of the disease using the guidance provided by Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health.
These recommendations include social distancing and the cancellation of large gatherings. Specific actions for home, schools/childcare sites, assisted living facilities, workplaces, healthcare settings, and community and faith-based organizations are available at the Minnesota Department of Health website:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/disea…/coronavirus/index.html).
Learn more about the virus and ways to protect yourself, your family, and your neighbors at the CDC website (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html)
To prevent the spread of these and other illnesses, stay home if you are ill, cover your cough, and wash your hands frequently. MDH has set up a public hotline that is open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The hotline number is 651.201.3920.