Sturgis cyclists and students from St. Olaf College found some common ground in Minnesota this week, but not in a good way: COVID-19 came calling.
Health officials have confirmed 15 cases among Minnesotans who traveled to South Dakota earlier this month for the massive motorcycle rally, and they expect more to come.
In Northfield, Minn., 17 St. Olaf students were fired for the fall semester because of a party on campus without wearing masks or social distances, and where at least one person was infected with COVID-19 and others exposed .
“This is the kind of reckless behavior that puts an end to our own semester, and it needs to stop,” said David Anderson, the school’s president, in a message to students. “Others who were present have exposed innocent students, such as roommates, who now have to pay a heavy price for the poor choices of others.”
Here are the latest coronavirus statistics in Minnesota:
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68,133 cases confirmed (835 new) via 1,340,850 tests (18,630 new)
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1,753 dead (eight new)
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6,064 cases requiring hospitalization
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296 people remain hospitalized; 136 in intensive care
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60,920 patients no longer need isolation
Sturgis ‘ripe’ for COVID-19
Public health leaders have been worried for weeks about Minnesotans bringing back COVID-19 from Sturgis. Among the 15 Minnesota cases confirmed Friday, one person is in the hospital.
More cases will be expected in the coming days from the August 7-16 rally, said Kris Ehresmann, director of infectious disease. She urged anyone who went 14 days after self-isolation to be tested if they did not feel well and stay home until they got the test results.
The rally drew about 460,000 people from across the country. Most people did not take any major precautions against COVID-19 infections.
Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm had repeatedly expressed concern that Sturgis would be a petri dish for the disease and that she was disappointed that South Dakota had given OK the rally that would draw people from all over the country , including places where COVID-19 cases were climbing.
Sturgis, she said when the inauguration begins, will be a “nice ripe environment for further spread.”
Sturgis’ confirmations come as new confirmed cases continue steeply, with 835 new cases reported Friday.
“The way out of this mess is clear,” said Drs. Ruth Lynfield, the state’s epidemiologist, earlier this week when she urged Minnesotans to wear masks in public indoor spaces, social distance, stay away from large gatherings and be tested if you have Covid19 symptoms.
“Health care professionals and health care providers have their roles to play – and so does every Minnesotan. We need people to do the right thing. ”
Business in Southern Minnesota trending up
On a regular basis, the Twin Cities and their suburbs have driven the counting of newly reported cases, although there is now an upswing in southern Minnesota.
Businesses in northern Minnesota have been on the rise since early July, although new numbers have been declining in recent days. Beltrami County, home of Bemidji, has seen a steady climb in recent weeks. The province reported 287 cases and one death as of Friday.
Meatpacking operations were formerly hotspots for major outbreaks in southwest, west-central and central Minnesota earlier in the pandemic.
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New cases have slowed sharply in recent weeks, although the problem has recently resurfaced in McLeod County (293 cases), where more than 20 employees at a Seneca Foods factory in Glencoe were recently identified in an outbreak.
Le Sueur and Waseca counties are also seeing large, recent cases increase. Le Sueur showed 302 cases and two deaths as of Friday. Ehresmann said that although there is transmission of the disease in the workplace, the jumps in those counties have to do with the spread of the community.
Concerns of college grow as autumn semester approaches
Concerns continue about the growth of COVID-19 among younger Minnesotans, including that those infected will spread the virus through insecurity to grandparents and other vulnerable people.
People in their 20s remain the age group with the highest number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the pandemic – more than 15,500. The median age of cases is 36.
State health authorities on Friday asked parents and others to ensure that children in their care are up to date in their immunizations.
They reiterate their concerns about college students attending summer parties and other gatherings that could fuel the spread of COVID-19 and bring it to campuses this fall.
Clusters of cases continued around late June around college bars, including in Mankato, Minneapolis and St. Louis. Cloud. Concerns about similar potential outbreaks flare up again as the fall semester approaches.
The president of the University of Minnesota announced Friday that she proposes that three of the U.S. campuses – in the Twin Cities, Rochester and Duluth – begin classes online for at least the first two weeks of school this fall.
On Friday, state officials separately acknowledged their disappointment over the situation in St. Louis. Olaf.
“It’s really disappointing to see this kind of behavior just as lessons begin to unravel,” said Ehresmann, a St. Olaf graduate.
“I hope this is an opportunity for these students to learn about the importance of making a difference in the community,” she said, “not just about what you do in your career, but through the choices you make.” t you make. “
Developments from around the state
U of M-President sets online-only beginning to lead semester
University of Minnesota president Joan Gabel says she proposes that undergrads on three U campuses – including the Twin Cities – begin classes online for at least the first two weeks of school this fall.
The announcement on Friday comes in response to news that several colleges and universities around the country had to cancel or pause their learning on campus this week because COVID-19 was spreading among their students.
The proposal to delay pre-school courses for the most part also includes Duluth and Rochester.
It would also delay relocation for students living on campus.
The university’s government board is expected to include Gabel’s proposal in a special meeting on Monday.
– Staff of MPR News
School guidance card shifted again
The evolving COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota is constantly changing recommendations for schools to open across the state.
In the latest batch of calculations released Thursday, 11 counties saw their recommendations change for the worse as school began today, away from personal learning for all students, while six counties saw improvements.
David H. Montgomery | MPR News
St Louis County, for example, had a two-week total of 7.6 new cases per 10,000 residents in last week’s renewal. In this week’s update, which runs from July 26 to August 8, was held in St. Louis. Louis County averages 11.5 cases per 10,000 residents.
This changed the recommendation for schools there from personal learning for all students to personal learning for lower students and a mix of personal and distance education for upper classes.
Officials say the reopening recommendations for schools of per-person cases are meant to be a starting point for decision-making, with the final talks made by school districts in consultation with the health department.
There is no geographical pattern where counties see their recommendations up or down.
For example, among the nine counties in southwestern Minnesota, three saw their recommendation change for the worse in this week’s renewal, four saw improvements, and two remained the same.
Overall, 51 counties with about 23 percent of the state’s population currently have a personal learning recommendation for all students. Another 26 counties with 32 percent of the state’s population are in the category of personal learning for elementary students and hybrid learning for graduate students.
Nine counties have case levels high enough to represent hybrid learning for all students in the health department’s section – but they include Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota and Scott counties, and make up as much as 45 percent of the state’s population.
Just one province, Red Lake, is recommended to do elementary students hybrid learning, while continuing students full-time distance learning.
No counties currently have so many cases that they are recommended to have all students at a distance, as school started today.
– David Montgomery | MPR News
Need help with rent, mortgage? Here’s how to get it
Beginning Monday, Minnesotans can apply for the $ 100 million in rent and mortgage assistance from Minnesota Housing.
The money is intended for Minnesotans who are struggling financially with COVID-19 and meeting certain income requirements. Applicants can call 211 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m .; staff who speak multiple languages will be on hand.
They can also enter 211 text and “MNRENT”, or go online to 211unitedway.org. Once the process begins, applicants can track their status online. The $ 100 million is from the federal CARES action and can help pay for housing costs such as rent, mortgages, lotteries in manufactured home parks, and utilities.
While the money is for both homeowners and renters, Jennifer Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho said she hopes homeowners explore all of their options.
“We really encourage people who have a mortgage to reach out to their financial institution, and find out if they are eligible for forgiveness, because many financial institutions offer the option of not paying directly,” Ho said. .
– Melissa Townsend | MPR News
Top headers
If cases of campus escalate nationwide, you propose to M-President to propose start on campus: In a note to the campus community Friday, University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel said she proposes that three of the U.S. campuses – in the Twin Cities, Rochester and Duluth – begin lessons online for at least the first two weeks of school this fall. The University’s Board of Regents will take up its proposals on Monday.
Mayo researcher says the clinic’s plasma program is promising, despite concerns from top healthcare executives: The clinic in Rochester, Minn., Has investigated whether the plasma of people who have recovered from the coronavirus can be used to treat people who suffer from it. An article in the New York Times reports that some health officials believe that the evidence for the treatments is not strong enough to qualify it for authorization for emergency use by the FDA. Dr. Scott Wright of Mayo told host Cathy Wurzer of Morning Edition that program data can be used to support randomized clinical trials, which provide the highest standard of evidence.
Back on here? A new $ 100 million aid program could help: As of Monday, Minnesotans who are behind in their rent or mortgage can apply for housing assistance intended for those struggling financially due to COVID-19. But there will be challenges in getting the money into the hands of people who need it most, so officials want to enroll landlords to help get the word out.
COVID-19 in Minnesota
Data in these graphs are based on cumulative total Minnesota Department of Health cumulative totals released at 11 a.m. daily. You can find more detailed statistics about COVID-19 on the Health Department website.
The coronavirus is transmitted through respiratory drops, coughs and niches, similar to the way the flu can spread.
