Low COVID-19 case count no reason to let guard down, local healthcare officials say

Cook County remains the only county in Minnesota with a single-digit case count of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. Not only does Cook County have the lowest tally among all of Minnesota’s 87 counties (six total cases as of Sept. 17), it also ranks among the lowest totals nationwide for any given county. By comparison, there are a number of counties in Montana that have single digit case counts, two in New Mexico, one in Maine, and there are a few other states that have counties with single-digit case counts of the new coronavirus.

Most regions of the country with a low case count are indeed rural areas. However, unlike Cook County, they are not typically tourist destinations. In fact, most of the counties WTIP found across the country with single-digit case counts are either agricultural areas or feature barren landscape with small populations.

That being the case, local health officials in Cook County continue to stress the need for remaining vigilant in the effort to combat COVID-19 in order to keep the case count low. This involves wearing a mask in public, washing your hands, staying socially distant when appropriate and other measures that have been emphasized dating back to March and the start of the pandemic.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Dr. Kurt Farchmin from Sawtooth Mountain Clinic in Grand Marais about the latest news on COVID-19 and what to expect heading into autumn.

Joe Friedrichs September 17, 2020