North Shore Health endures pandemic without a single case of COVID-19 among residents at local care center

The care center in Grand Marais did not detect a single COVID-19 case in the local facility throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, North Shore Health officials announced in a news release May 23.

Kimber Wraalstad, CEO of North Shore Health, said the health system followed protocol from the CDC and other national, state and local health services from the beginning of the discovery of coronavirus in the U.S. more than three years ago.

“From the get-go, North Shore Health has complied with strict COVID-19 protocols from Center for Disease Control (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to protect our residents, patients, visitors and employees,” she said.

The federal government declared an end to the COVID public health emergency May 11. It went into effect in March 2020.

The Care Center at North Shore Health was spared the circumstances that impacted many long-term care facilities across Minnesota during the pandemic, including in nearby Silver Bay. 

The facility, working closely with Cook County officials, including Public Health Supervisor Grace Grinager, implemented several strict safety protocols to protect its patients and residents — many of whom are immunocompromised and at increased risk for serious infection. In addition, North Shore Health thanked community members for complying with safety measures throughout the pandemic.

WTIP’s CJ Heithoff spoke with Hilja Iverson from North Shore Health to learn more about this topic.

WTIP Staff May 25, 2023