FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COVID-19 Hubbard County Community Mitigation

PARK RAPIDS, MN (March 16, 2020) On Sunday, March 15th, the Governor of Minnesota announced that schools in Minnesota will be closed starting March 18th – March 27th.  Our local school districts will be following this guideline – check with your school for their exact closure dates and details.  Additionally, last Friday the 13th the Governor released community mitigation strategies.  As of Sunday, March 15th, they have identified community transmission of COVID-19 in Minnesota, although as of today there are no positive cases in Hubbard County.

In accordance with these recommendations, CHI St. Joseph’s Health will be restricting patient visitors to immediate family only, with two visitors allowed per patient at a time.  Additionally, all visitors will be screened.  We ask that you avoid visiting when possible, and if you have any signs or symptoms of illness, recent travel to a high-risk area, or recent contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, you will be turned away.   We are asking the public to respect the health and safety of our patients and staff at this time, as well as recognize that these restrictions are meant to protect the entire community.  Other measures will be taken across departments at CHI St. Joseph’s Health so that we may continue to provide high quality care and protect the health and safety of our patients and staff.

Please follow the mitigation guidelines set forth by the Minnesota Department of Health, which include but are not limited to:

• Persons age 70 or older, or persons with underlying health conditions, both at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, should follow strict social distancing guidelines.   These include staying at home and avoiding gatherings or other situations of potential exposures, including travel.
• Postpone or cancel gatherings of more than 250 people, as well as smaller gatherings that do not allow for adequate social distancing of 6 feet per person.  Limit gatherings to no more than 10 people when those in attendance are at higher risk.
• Employers making telework arrangements for workers whose duties can be done remotely, and when possible staggering work schedules and limiting non-essential work travel.
• Health care facilities and assisted-living facilities more strictly limiting visitors.
• Faith-based organizations offering video or audio events.
• Hospitals and other health care facilities may implement triage before entering facilities (for example, phone triage and telemedicine to limit unnecessary visits).

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread primarily by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how the influenza virus spreads.  It can also spread when people touch contaminated surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.  More information can be found on MDH’s Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) website.  MDH has set up a COVID-19 public hotline that is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The hotline number is 651-201-3920.

This situation will put a burden on our community, but we can work together to limit the spread of COVID-19.  Stay home when you are sick, no exceptions.  If you believe you have been in contact with someone who may be ill with COVID-19, or have traveled to a high-risk area, and have symptoms, please contact your health care provider for guidance.

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