Another teen tests positive for COVID in Cook County as numbers spike statewide

The case count for COVID-19 continues to climb in Cook County.

The county notified the public of a new case Oct. 17, a male in his teens. This is the third teenager to test positive in Cook County since August.

The case count has fluctuated in recent days in Cook County due to discrepancies with where the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) places or confirms positive COVID-19 tests for any given county.

On Oct. 14, county officials learned that the MDH reassigned two Cook County COVID-19 cases to the individuals’ primary county of residence. This brought Cook County’s case count from ten to eight on Thursday. The number of positive cases in Cook County among local residents since the onset of the pandemic now stands at nine, two of which are active. However, the number of positive tests in Cook County since the start of the pandemic is higher, likely in the low teens.

Changes to the overall case count for a county occurs when an individual such as a student or seasonal worker provides two addresses, one temporary and one permanent, and MDH reviewers determine that the case should be assigned to the individuals’ primary/permanent residence.

The spread of the new coronavirus is reaching all corners of Minnesota at this time, with some of the highest daily case counts per capita coming from rural parts of the state. Friday (Oct. 16) was a record for the most confirmed cases at 2,287 in a single day since the onset of the pandemic.

As the weather turns cold and more people start to spend time indoors together, and with the holiday season fast approaching, Cook County and the rest of Minnesota are entering another critical phase in the ongoing pandemic.

“With fall activities in full swing and Halloween just two weeks away, we need to be especially mindful of social distancing and other best practices,” said Cook County Public Health Supervisor Grace Grinager. “By working together, we can help slow the pace of new cases in Cook County.”

Joe Friedrichs October 17, 2020