3-17 COVID-19 Update: MN Gov. Walz in Quarantine After Possible Exposure

3-17 COVID-19 Update: MN Gov. Walz in Quarantine After Possible Exposure

Latest on Governor Walz in Quarantine

A spokesperson for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday that a member of the governor’s staff tested positive for COVID-19 after being tested on Tuesday. That staff member was at an event Monday morning in Bloomington with Walz, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum and Angie Craig, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, and others.

“While Gov. Walz, Lt. Gov. Flanagan, and Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm were not within six feet of the staff member for more than 15 minutes, they were in the same room as the staff member for the duration of a press conference on Monday,” said Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann.

Those possibly exposed will quarantine through March 25, which is 10 days since the time of exposure per CDC guidance. Walz will postpone the State of the State address, which was scheduled for March 21 at Mankato West High School.

According to his office, Walz has not yet been vaccinated. Lt. Gov. Flanagan, whose brother died of COVID-19 last year, has received one of two required Moderna doses. Malcolm received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but is still within a 14-day waiting period for full immunity. Klobuchar, Smith, McCollum and Craig all have been fully vaccinated.

“The Governor hopes this serves as an important reminder for Minnesotans that, while we are close to the end of the pandemic, we must continue to take COVID-19 seriously,” said Tschann.

The Minnesota Department of Health provided the latest public health information regarding COVID-19 at 2 p.m. Wednesday. You can watch the full briefing here. Below is a bullet-point recap:

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• In Minnesota, 499,962 total cases since pandemic began (up 1,046 cases on testing volume of 21,046)
• In Minnesota, 6,756 total deaths (up 7)
• Minnesota’s 7-day care positivity rate is at 4.0%, the highest since Jan. 31
• “We are quite confident to be safe and do our jobs at the same time,” said Malcolm on governor in quarantine.
• “He’s a very healthy man and he knows that we’re very close to that eligibility category,” said Malcolm when asked about Walz getting the vaccine. Malcolm said Walz wanted to remain consistent with guidance MDH put out for fellow Minnesotans. “We’re quite confident of our abilities to do our jobs and be safe at the same time.”

Latest on COVID-19 Vaccines:

• MDH expects to surpass 2 million doses administered on Thursday
  • Of those, 1.28 million Minnesotans have received at least one dose (23.1% of state’s population)
  • 76.4% of people age 65+ have received at least one dose
• Received 6,300 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Sunday, and another 6,300 doses on Tuesday. Many more Johnson & Johnson doses expected at end of month. Kris Ehresmann, MDH infectious disease division director, indicated 100,000 J&J doses a week possible in April.
• Iowa will make vaccines eligible to all residents by April 5, if supply increases as expected. On Minnesota doing the same: “That’s about the timeline we do expect to be able to open further,” said Malcolm. “We’re having discussions right now about what are the most logical next steps.”

Latest on Variants

• Ehresmann noted that an increase of proportion of MDH lab samples that are positive for SARS-coV-2 variants, particularly B.1.1.7.
• CDC ramping up national surveillance system on variants, added Malcolm.

Updated Guidance for Residents of Long-term Care Facilities

• MDH also updated guidance for residents of long-term care facilities. The guidance includes:
  • Residents who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine after non-medically necessary outings unless they spend 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period within 6 feet of someone who can spread COVID-19.
  • Residents who are fully vaccinated may gather indoors or outdoors with other people who are fully vaccinated.
  • Residents who are fully vaccinated can visit indoors or outdoors with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 infection.
  • If the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touch) with the people they are visiting.

3-15 COVID-19 Update: B.1.1.7 Variant Causing Concern Among Minnesota Health Officials

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