10-5 Coronavirus Update from MN Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Health Coronavirus Update 10-5-2020

Read the 10-2 MN COVID-19 Update from MN Department of Health Here

The Minnesota Department of Health will hold a conference call briefing members of the media on the latest public health information regarding COVID-19.

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• Globally, 35.2 million cases since pandemic began; 1.04 million deaths
• In U.S., 7.45 million cases since start of pandemic; 209,000 deaths
• In Minnesota, 104,799 total confirmed cases (up 982 cases over previous reporting day on volume of more than 23,000 lab tests)
• Of the 104,799 cases, 94,416 (90%) are longer considered infectious
• In Minnesota, 2,083 cumulative deaths (up 3)
• Age breakdown of newly reported deaths: 2 in 90s, 1 in 80s.
• 367 currently hospitalized in Minnesota, 123 in MN ICUs
• 7-day positivity rate is 5.2% through data of Sept. 26 (down from 5.4% of a week ago).
  • “Caution threshold” is 5%
  • Been above this threshold for nine consecutive days.
• MDH Guide to voting in middle of pandemic. “We would compare the risk of voting in person probably comparable to going to the grocery store,” said Malcolm.
  • “I voted by mail and it went quite well,” said Ehresmann, who added she hopes to serve as an election judge.

MDH Director of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology Kris Ehresmann:

• MDH following standard contact tracing protocols in regards to President Trump campaign events in Minnesota.
• “This is clearly an out-of-the-ordinary situation to say the least,” said Ehresmann.
• COVID-19 can take several days to develop. An initial negative test does not mean the “all clear.”
  • If you get tested on day four or five after possible exposure and the result is negative, you could still have COVID-19.
  • Recommend getting tested again on days 12-14. Incubation period is a full 14 days.

Q&A Session and Notes:

• On closure of Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul by M Health Fairview: MDH assured by CEO of M Health Fairview that capacity for COVID care will remain what is now. (Bethesda Hospital was only hospital used exclusively for COVID-19 care). That care will be transferred to St. Joseph Hospital in St. Paul, will be Fairview’s new flagship for COVID-19 care.
• CDC officially updates guidelines to acknowledge airborne transmission. 
  • Infections occur mainly through exposure to respiratory droplets when a person is in close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
  • According to CDC, some infections can be spread by exposure to virus in small droplets and particles that can linger in the air for minutes to hours. These viruses may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space.
  • Ehresmann: Closed spaces with inadequate ventilation the primary driver of airborne transmission.
• Guidance for COVID-19 exposure is generally within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes.
• World Health Organization: 10% of world’s people may have been infected with virus.

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