8-3 COVID-19 Update from MN Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Update 8-3-2020

Read the 7-31-2020 COVID-19 Update from the Minnesota Department of Health Here

The Minnesota Department of Health held a conference call Monday to brief members of the media on the latest public health information regarding COVID-19.

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• Globally, 18 million cases since pandemic began; 689,000 deaths
• In U.S., 4.6 million cases since pandemic began; 154,000 deaths.
• Pace of growth in U.S. “is pretty sobering.” U.S. adding 100,000 cases a day, 1,000+ daily deaths.
• In Minnesota, 56,560 cases since March (month of first Minnesota case), an increase of 622 cases since prior reporting day.
  • More than 2,000 cases since Friday.
  • Median age of cases is 36 years old
• In Minnesota, 1,616 deaths, 2 newly reported deaths
• Hospitalizations in MN: 302; number of people in ICU as of today: 153
• Minnesota hasn’t reported more than 9 COVID-19 deaths in a single day since July 2.
• Above 15,000 tests over past three days.
• 7-day average positivity rate is 5.1%, this continues to grow, says health officials
• 370 complaints about people violating executive orders from July 10-July 31 about bar and restaurant violations (24 complaints on Friday). Complaints involve people not social distancing and wearing masks.

MDH Infectious Diseases Director Kris Ehresmann:

• Raised importance of donating convalescent plasma (people who have been exposed to COVID-18 and recovered), plasma contains antibodies.
  • Convalescent plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2.
  • COVID-19 patients develop antibodies in the blood against the virus.
  • Can treat people with life-threatening COVID-19 infections
  • Memorial Blood Centers and Red Cross looking for donations.
• Warns about scams involving contact tracing.
  • Public health officials will NEVER ask for credit card numbers or social security numbers
• People have also received fake CDC letter that contains “disturbing guidance” about use of masks. This letter tries to confuse people into not wearing masks.

Q&A Session and Notes:

• How to distribute vaccine once it’s available? Malcolm: Great question. Minnesota COVID Ethics Committee working on ethical-based guidelines for resource allocations. Science advisory team also gives input.
  • Ehresmann: Broad guidelines come from federal government. It will be state’s responsibility to implement it.
  • Minnesota has begun planning for COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine not readily available at this point.
  • Ehresmann: “We recognize that it will be a challenge,” on vaccinating the entire state, not to mention the global population. “We started the process,” she said about planning.
  • “It will be a process,” said Ehresmann. Not enough vaccine right away.
• Dr. Fauci mentioned today that Minnesota should be dialing back its openings considering its case growth. What’s your reaction?: Malcolm: “We are looking very closely at our data.”
  • “We’ve been a little more stable in recent days,” said Malcolm on new cases, albeit at an unfortunately high level.
  • Ehresmann: When we hear comments at the federal level, “It’s not a surprise to us,” she said.
• Bigger transmission we’re seeing happens AFTER sporting events, said Ehresmann. So not the players who participate in the games aren’t transmitting the virus at the event, but the social activities involving players afterwards contributing to community spread.
  • Also brought up Sturgis, S.D. motorcycle rally (Aug. 7-Aug. 16).
    • Hearing reports that Sturgis rally will be “business as usual.” People mixing from all over the country.
    • Encourages people to quarantine afterwards if they attend.
  • No updates on rodeo in northern Minnesota. No new cases linked to person who attended and later tested positive for COVID-19.
• Anyway to track people who had COVID-19 and developed long-term complications? Ehresmann: “We do not follow individual case for the duration of COVID-19.” Says it’s not possible given there’s more than 56,000 cases since pandemic began impacting Minnesota in March.
  • MDH does follow-up with people who have been hospitalized however. 
  • “There is data suggestive of the fact that having COVID-19 may have lasting consequences more than people may have initially thought,” said Ehresmann.
  • It’s possible state may participate in studies at COVID-19 long-term impacts?
• Much consideration of indoor spread of virus through the air as opposed to direct person-to-person contact? Especially as schools consider reopening. Ehresmann: “The issue of aerosolization of the virus has been on everyone’s radar for a while.” “There’s different perspectives.” This has led to recommendation wearing masks.
• Guidance for sports? MSHL decision on Aug. 4. Ehresmann: We have broad guidance for different types of sports. “Our biggest concern is how we can allow students to participate in sports in the safest manner possible.”
• Walk us through contact tracing process? Ehresmann: First thing that happens, patient is interviewed, asked what person does, where that person was. From there, are there direct contacts MDH should reach out to? Contact tracers will then contact those who may have been exposed. That person can certainly tell others that they’ve been exposed to the initial infected person. Contact tracers reach out to those potentially exposed. People infected encouraged to reach out to others who they have had contact with.

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