6-24-2020 COVID-19 Update from the MN Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Update 6-24-2020

Read the 6-22-2020 COVID-19 Update from Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health Here

On Wednesday, June 24, 2020 the Minnesota Department of Health held a conference call to brief members of the media on the latest public health information regarding COVID-19.  

MDH Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann:

• Globally, 9.24 million cases; 477,000 deaths.
• In U.S., 2.39 million cases; 121,000 deaths
• In Minnesota, 33,763 confirmed cases (up 304), 1,397 deaths (up 5). Mentioned subtracting one case that was determined not to be affiliated with COVID-19
  • Two of the deaths occurred at long-term care facilities
  • New median age of cases is 39.8 years old.
• 340 people hospitalized in Minnesota for COVID-19 (160 in ICU).
  • Hospitalizations up from 322 reported on Sunday
  • State peak for COVID-19 hospitalizations so far was 606 on May 28
• Total number of completed tests 529,643 (state reported 9,556 diagnostic tests processed Tuesday … 7,264 reported Monday)
  • Governor Walz’s original goal was 20,000 per day
  • Daily testing positivity rate is 3.2%
    • From community testing sites in Mpls and St. Paul, noticed “significant disparities” in positivity rates. These were testing sites set up after mass gatherings and protests following death of George Floyd.
      • Whites – 0.2% tested positive for COVID-19
      • Blacks – 1.3%
      • Asian – 5.0%
      • Latinx – 7.4%
      • People of color represented 40% of people getting tested, but 90% of positive cases
      • Ehresmann says disparities could be attributed to job differences and uneven health conditions
• Increases in disease in south-central Minnesota involving young adults who visited bars over the weekend of June 12. These individuals also work health and child care, said Ehresmann.
• Emphasizes the need for younger populations to social distance and wear masks

Q&A Session and Notes:

• Why that much disparity in protest testing sites? Populations of color may have had risk factors for exposure outside protest activity, said Ehresmann. Again mention job differences and also housing disparities.
  • “Much better to be engaging with people in outdoor setting” when it comes to COVID-19, said Ehresmann. “You have advantage of air flow, dilution, just better ventilation,” compared to indoor settings.
• Is there concern among younger adults not following guidelines? Ehresmann: Yes, it’s why we’re making people aware of this. Even though they may not be at higher risk for complications, they do have higher risk for transmission in environments where social distancing is not happening, then creating potential to transmit disease to others.
• What’s happening in south-central Minnesota? Ehresmann: We’ve got 100 or so cases in that area. It really is focused on young people in 20s frequenting bars, related to COVID-19 cases.
  • Bars not required to report cases of COVID-19 among staff to MDH, but would be very helpful to report cases to MDH
• Why are deaths so different between MN and WI, about twice as many deaths in WI: Ehresmann: “I have been asked about this quite a lot.” Early days, we’ve been ahead of the curve. “We’re not doing things particularly different from them.” “Don’t have good answer.”
  • In MN, anyone who tested positive with molecular test, then dies, is counted as COVID-19 death.
• Amazon cases: updated numbers? Ehresmann: “The bulk of the cases occurred in May.” Working to update numbers. “There have been a couple of cases since then.”
  • outbreak not only involved Shakopee fulfillment center, but Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove warehouses
  • “We have a workplace team that reached out to them, has worked with them in terms of steps they can take to improve the safety of the workplace for their employees. They have taken those steps.” “And we’ve seen a reduction in cases.”
    • MDH did a site visit to Amazon facilities. Addressed do workers have 6 feet of distance between them. How they conducted breaks, making sure not everybody doing breaks at same time.
    • MDH went over work flow with Amazon management. Made recommendations in how they screen employees, whether they can put up physical barriers.
• Is a month of time enough to determine impact of mass gatherings? Ehresmann: Yes, “We’re pleased to see lower positivity overall,” but again noted disparities among people of color. Need to make testing more accessible to these populations and indigenous people. “We need to continue to ramp up our outreach efforts to these communities,” she said.
  • “We still have a number of concerning issues we need to be following up on,” when it comes to testing.
  • Noticed disparities in testing positivity rates among people of color, these disparities include community testing sites after the recent protests, mass gatherings.
• Bars and positivity rate connection: Ehresmann: “Don’t want to suggest we don’t want people to have fun.” Attentiveness certainly can go down with alcohol consumption. Certainly better to be outdoors. Social distancing is very important.
• Cases of unknown exposure has gone down – explain further. Ehresmann: we do have more data on where people have been exposed.
  • “We’re seeing some positive trends,” said Ehresmann.
  • Outbreaks at certain locations do increase “known exposure” cases.
• iPhone apps and Android apps to track exposure? Ehresmann: It’s not something we’re currently looking at right this minute.
• MLB announces plan to return next month without fans. What about socially-distanced crowds eventually, say in 3 to 4 months? Ehresmann: I hope that to be the case. Not at this time. “The opportunity for crowding, that’s where we see transmission happening.”

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