Two more lakes area congregate living facilities are now facing outbreaks of COVID-19.
Edgewood in Baxter and Good Samaritan Society in Pine River are both now included on the Minnesota Department of Health’s list of facilities with exposures.
At the Pine River location, three residents tested positive along with five staff members, a spokesperson with Sanford Health, which owns Good Samaritan Society, reported Friday, Aug. 28. The first positive test was recorded Aug. 20.
“Good Samaritan Society-Pine River continues to take extra precautions, and is using vigorous infection control measures while also working closely with the Department of Health,” stated Jennifer Grams, the facility’s administrator, in an emailed statement. “The health, safety and well-being of our residents, staff and the community we serve remains our top priority.”
A phone call Friday to Edgewood was not returned. Crow Wing County Public Health Supervisor Michelle Moritz confirmed the location was Friday added to the state’s list, which is updated weekly.
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Congregate care facilities included on the list reported an exposure from a case of COVID-19 in a resident, staff person or visiting provider. Facilities may not have ongoing transmission and those with fewer than 10 residents are not listed. Facilities that have not reported a new exposure for a minimum of 28 days are removed from the list. If a facility identifies a new exposure, it will once again be listed.
Good Samaritan Society-Bethany in south Brainerd was recently relisted after spending most of June and all of July with no additional resident cases. As of Tuesday, 10 more residents and one more employee tested positive. Combined, 73 separate cases of the virus have occurred in the facility — 42 residents and 31 employees.
This week, for the first time since case numbers have been collected, a significant majority of Crow Wing County positives are among those under age 50. Of 297 cases now recorded in the county, 155 are those under 50, with those ages 19-29 accounting for 22.2% of all cases.
Cass County reached a milestone this week, now reporting 100 total cases.
COVID-19 data as of Aug. 28
Aitkin — 48 (+3 since Aug. 25), with one death.
Cass — 100 (+7), with three deaths.
Crow Wing — 297 (+7), with 16 deaths.
Mille Lacs — 93 (+5), with three deaths.
Morrison — 112 (+4), with one death.
Todd — 446 (+3), with two deaths.
Wadena — 45 (+1).
NOTE: These numbers are cumulative since March 21 and many are likely out of isolation. The number of those no longer needing isolation is not reported on a county-level basis by the state.
