Kandiyohi County urges residents to get vaccinated and start wearing masks again as COVID-19 cases rise
Aug. 4—WILLMAR — Kandiyohi County Public Health has released new recommendations for area residents, given the rise of cases in the state from the delta variant of COVID-19.
Mainly, wear masks indoors, even if you're vaccinated, and get vaccinated if you haven't already.
Kandiyohi County has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases in the past few weeks, and currently has 56 active cases of COVID-19. The delta variant has been found to be more contagious than earlier variants of the coronavirus.
People who are fully vaccinated should start wearing a mask in public indoor settings. That's particularly true if you or someone in your household is at risk of severe disease or is unvaccinated.
People with compromised immune systems or certain medical conditions like diabetes, obesity or heart conditions are at risk of severe disease.
"Getting fully vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, including the delta variant," the county's Health and Human Services Director Jennie Lippert said in a news release Tuesday. "COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against the delta and other known variants."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Data Tracker site currently lists Kandiyohi County as having substantial community transmission. Meeker County has a high level of transmission, and Big Stone, Redwood, Renville and Stearns counties also have substantial transmission.
The CDC lists moderate transmission in Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Pope, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties.
Find the CDC's COVID Data Tracker map at covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.
"Now is the time to get school-agers vaccinated," Lippert said, as it can take five to six weeks to be considered fully vaccinated, depending on the type of vaccination received.
To make a vaccine appointment, call your health care provider or local pharmacy, visit www.kcmn.us/covid-19 or inquire at other area public health agencies.
The CDC recommends indoor masking in schools for everyone who enters a school building, regardless of whether they are vaccinated. The Minnesota Department of Education is following the CDC recommendations.
The CDC and state Education Department also recommend careful monitoring of local COVID-19 conditions to inform decision-making.
Lippert's recommendations for those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19: Get tested if you have symptoms or three to five days after a known exposure. Isolate as needed. Wear a mask in indoor public settings for 14 days or until receiving a negative test result.
Public Health will continue to monitor local conditions and share information on the county website and its Facebook page, Lippert said.
In Tuesday's Minnesota Department of Health situation update, 1,667 new cases and four deaths were reported statewide. More than 100 new cases were reported in area counties. A month ago, area counties were reporting new cases in single digits, and many had none at all.
Kandiyohi County reported 21 new cases. Stearns County reported 80 cases, and Meeker County reported 14. Other area counties reported fewer cases in Tuesday's report — Pope County, six; Redwood County, four; Renville County, three; Chippewa County, two; and Swift County, one. Big Stone, Lac qui Parle and Yellow Medicine listed no new cases.
Vaccination percentages in area counties
The state's vaccine summary Tuesday reports 3,170,942 people have received at least one done of vaccine, and 3,004,629 are considered to be fully vaccinated. The state has about 5.7 million residents.
This list includes the percentage of people 12 and older who are vaccinated in area counties. Children younger than 12 are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.
* Big Stone County: 63%
* Chippewa County: 58%
* Kandiyohi County: 54%
* Lac qui Parle County: 61%
* Meeker County: 48%
* Pope County: 55%
* Redwood County: 53%
* Renville County: 54%
* Stearns County: 51%
* Swift County: 56%
* Yellow Medicine County: 54%
