The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed the first reported case of COVID-19 in Crow Wing County is a permanent resident of a different county.
In a news release, Crow Wing County stated MDH informed the county of the confirmed case Tuesday, March 31. The case was first reported Monday in a news release from Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge in Brainerd, where the male was a client at the time of his COVID-19 confirmation. He has been released to a family member and is being isolated at home.
Since this person’s residence is in a different county, the confirmed case will not show up for Crow Wing County on the MDH website.
“People that travel to different places could be tested and confirmed in one location but the actual COVID-19 confirmed case will count in the individual’s county of permanent residence,” stated Crow Wing County Public Health Supervisor Michelle Moritz in the release. “This person is currently isolated in a different county. Whether they live in Crow Wing County or they’re here temporarily, we are prepared to follow guidelines and recommendations.
“We are very fortunate that we have a dedicated emergency preparedness team working with our public health and county leaders working diligently to slow the spread of COVID-19. Our number one goal is to keep our residents safe and healthy.”
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Both Crow Wing County and Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge staff are working with health officials from the Minnesota Department of Health to evaluate where this individual has traveled and with whom they might have come into contact with in recent days. People identified will be asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days from their exposure date and will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms. Mary Brown, vice president of marketing for Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge, confirmed Monday a few employees of the Brainerd facility are quarantined in their homes due to close contact with the infected individual.
In a follow-up email Tuesday, Brown noted the facility has 63 employees across all shifts and programs and they’ve been following social distancing principles since March 16. The short-term recovery program, of which the infected individual was a part, contains 18 beds.
In a majority of cases, COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
Brown said the client who tested positive first presented a low-grade fever. He was then isolated per protocols. Two days later, he developed respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath and a dry cough. He was then transferred Saturday, March 28, to Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd for evaluation.
“It is encouraging to know he was not kept overnight for observation, but rather discharged from the ER that same Saturday evening,” Brown stated.
Health officials recommend individuals and families make a plan in case someone gets sick. They also suggest staying home and away from others if sick, covering coughs and sneezes with an elbow or a tissue, washing hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water and avoiding touching one’s face.
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The Minnesota Department of Health set up COVID-19 hotlines available every day 7 a.m.-7 p.m. For school and child care questions, call 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504. For health questions call 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903. Visit cdc.gov and health.state.mn.us for more information about COVID-19.
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