Carlton County COVID-19 update 7/8/20
General Updates:
For updated case counts around the state, please continue to reference the situation map, updated by MDH daily at 11am here (includes county-specific case count). The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) continues to do the main investigation of each case, and Carlton County Public Health staff will follow-up when needed.
Statewide, of the 39,589 lab-confirmed cases on MDH’s website, 265 are currently hospitalized and 34,902 no longer need isolation. Please visit the MN Department of Corrections website for more cases specific to those who are incarcerated. For any questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call the Minnesota Helpline at 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504, Monday-Friday: 9am-4pm.
Beginning July 6, the state has updated a few of the measures/metrics they have been watching to evaluate the rate of new cases and how the virus is spreading. These have also been updated on the MN COVID-19 Dashboard.
- The first update is the threshold for tests per week, which is now 100 tests/10,000 population per week. With the increase in testing capacity, the state has exceeded this goal for the past three weeks by about double (200 tests/10,000 population per week).
- The second update is the replacement of the case doubling time measure with the rate of new cases per 100,000 population. The state’s threshold is 5 new cases per 100,000 residents, averaged over 7 days (about 283 new cases/day). Currently, statewide we are above the threshold at 7.7 new cases per 100,000 residents (about 435 new cases/day). Looking at new cases makes it easier to identify outbreaks or increases in cases faster than looking at the doubling rate.
MDH and State Officials continue to watch these dial back measures closely in order to make decisions in regards to the phased re-opening strategy.
COVID-19 impacts our society in almost every way imaginable. Numerous Minnesotans are unemployed or need assistance with food, housing, mental health, and more. Check out this page on the Governor’s StaySafeMN website to find resources. Also, continue to visit the StaySafeMN website for more details on the phased re-opening of the state as it applies to specific public settings.
Check out this 2-pager regarding COVID-19 & the MN LGBTQ Community – testing information, support and other resources.
Additional Health Recommendations:
Pediatric visits at clinics have decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. These visits are important for checking on a child’s growth, development, and getting recommended immunizations (see more at MDH’s website here). They are also important to protect your children from other serious diseases and help prevent other disease outbreaks. If your child missed any appointments over the last few months, it’s not too late. Talk to your child’s clinic to see how they can get caught up, and check out this 30-second video from MDH.
It is not out of the ordinary to develop feelings of depression, anxiety or other wellbeing concerns at any time during the pandemic. If concerns become of immediate concern, please contact any of the crisis resources below, or listed on the MN Department of Human Services website:
Mental Wellbeing Tip of the Day:
Set "no coronavirus talk" boundaries. We have so much information coming our way with news alerts, press briefings, and articles that we can become overwhelmed with processing information. Make sure to limit how much news you watch and be sure to have conversations about other topics!
Carlton County Updates:
Carlton County is preparing to make election season as safe as possible for residents. The State of MN and CDC recommend that residents stay at home and vote by mail, if at all possible, and Carlton County will be following this guidance. If you would like more info on absentee voting, please visit www.mnvotes.org. If you are a registered voter and live in a mail ballot precinct you will automatically be mailed a ballot. Please watch for more information in next week’s press release (7/15) with details regarding the process of receiving a mailed ballot, and additional safety precautions.
Continue to visit the COVID-19 Hub on Carlton County’s website to find local resources and information!
Please continue to visit the County webpage for updated details on building/service availability: http://www.co.carlton.mn.us/.
Resources:
Please continue to access the following websites for the most up to date and accurate information:
- StaySafeMN Order and Safely Reopening Minnesota
- (State) Minnesota Department of Health
- (National) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- (International) World Health Organization