Itasca County Gives Coronavirus Update as County Reaches 6 Cases

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.– Earlier today, Itasca County confirmed four more cases of Coronavirus in the county pushing its total number of cases to six.

County leaders held a news conference to give an update on the current situation in the area.

County officials didn’t give any information on the two most recent cases. But they did say both cases from last weekend were affiliated with group care settings in Grand Rapids.

“The more that we do, the more vigilant that we are to protect ourselves we are protecting others,” said Marc Halpert, Chief Operating Officer for Monarch Health Care Management and The Emeralds Grand Rapids.

The first of the two cases came from a group home from the Orion Corporation in Minnesota. Last week, an employee tested positive for the virus. Residents were tested and so far all came back negative but they are still waiting on the final test.

The other came from the nursing facility The Emeralds. They tested the 19 residents that an employee came into contact with and found one resident did test positive for the virus.

Both of the cases came from people who were in contact with family that tested positive for Coronavirus.

“Please make sure to wear those masks. Please make sure to social distance. Please stop seeing people outside your house that are not your family members that are not living with you,” said Halpert. “Don’t even go to see your mom.”

Officials expect the number of cases in the county will go up. The rise is expected to come from a combination of increased testing capacity and additional population during the summer if tourists visit.

More Coronavirus test kits are on the way for healthcare facilities, which leaders say they will need if the tourism boom does happen.

“We are a little nervous with the lightening of the restrictions,” said Jean Macdonell, President and CEO of Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital. “Depending on how many tests we go through, how we’ll keep those supplies rolling in, we have a back order of swabs on order on a regular basis.”

Itasca County also has a Coronavirus hot line for people in the county to call for more information on the virus. Itasca County residents with questions should call 218-327-6784.