New deaths from COVID-19 complications among north-central Minnesotans were reported every day since Monday this week, and Friday, Oct. 23, was no exception.
Friday’s toll included a person between the ages of 60-64 in Wadena County and a Mille Lacs County resident who was 70-74 years old. A total of 18 deaths in the seven-county region have been reported since Oct. 16, a nearly 50% increase in all those recorded since the pandemic began. The total now stands at 58.
Just Crow Wing County did not report a COVID-19 death this week, while Aitkin, Cass, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties each suffered at least one loss. In Mille Lacs County, seven residents succumbed to the disease, with three each recorded in Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties. All of those who died were age 60 or older, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, with most in their late 70s to early 90s.
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Todd County encourages testing
Todd County experienced a significant increase in COVID‐19 cases in recent weeks, and according to the health department, saw a 10-15% positivity rate during the week of Oct. 4-10.
In a news release, the county’s public health officials encouraged those with symptoms or those identified as a close contact with a confirmed positive to seek testing.
Symptoms of COVID‐19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, congestion, or loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Not everyone with COVID‐19 has all of these symptoms, and some people may not have any symptoms.
In general, being a close contact means spending more than 15 minutes at less than 6 feet away from someone with COVID‐19. It can take two to 14 days for COVID‐19 to develop, so even for those who test negative once, they could still develop COVID‐19 later and spread it unknowingly.
Todd County testing sites include:
CentraCare — Online COVID-19 test scheduling is available at https://bit.ly/35mdSMA or call CentraCare Connect at 320-200-3200. Both services are available 24/7.
Coborn’s Pharmacy, Long Prairie — Free, drive-thru testing is available 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Make an appointment at corborns.com .
Lakewood Health System — Call 218-894-1515 or visit Click Care at https://lakewood.zipnosis.com . Available 24/7.
Tri-County Health Care, Bertha Clinic — Call 218-924-2250 or visit the eClinic at https://tchc.zipnosis.com . Available 24/7.
Appointments are required at all health systems and must be scheduled in advance. The county asked people to not show up at a health care system without an appointment to get tested for COVID‐19.
For more information on testing locations in Minnesota, visit
https://bit.ly/3ktvVqO
.
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COVID-19 data as of Oct. 23
Aitkin — 165 (+25 since Oct. 16), with two (+1) deaths.
Cass — 357 (+68), with five (+1) deaths.
Crow Wing — 980 (+173), with 21 deaths.
Mille Lacs — 387 (+58), with 14 (+7) deaths.
Morrison — 694 (+163), with eight (+3) deaths.
Todd — 769 (+112), with five (+3) deaths.
Wadena — 215 (+45), with three (+3) deaths.
NOTE: These numbers are cumulative since March 21 and many are out of isolation. The number of those no longer needing isolation is not reported on a county-level basis by the state.
