Olmsted County reports a record high in weekly Covid-19 cases

The director of Olmsted County Public Health says “a number of warning signs” are popping up in the battle against Covid-19, as the organization reports the highest number of new weekly cases since the pandemic took hold in March.

Two-hundred-and-six new positive cases were confirmed by Public Health officials over the past week, dwarfing the previous record of 169 weekly cases in mid-July. Three of the five largest single-day totals for new cases were reported last week, including a new single-day record of 42 new cases.

Looking past the raw numbers of new case totals, the underlying statistics also paint a bleak picture. Seven-day rolling averages have also soared over 30 for the first time, shattering the previous record of 25 — also set in mid-July. Tests are turning up positive with greater frequency as well; the 7-day rolling average of percent-positive tests currently sits at 5.4 percent, after stabilizing around four percent for most of the summer.

“A lot of you probably now have a neighbor, loved one, friend or co-worker who’s had an experience — either being exposed, or contracting — Covid-19,” said Graham Briggs, director of Olmsted County Public Health, in a video released Wednesday. “I think we’re starting to feel a lot of what the country has already experienced.”

Hospitalizations and ICU numbers remained stable, with less than 15 people hospitalized and less than five of those in intensive care, but Briggs says those numbers are likely to creep upwards in the coming weeks, noting that increases in early indicators normally lead to increases in hospitalizations a few weeks down the line.

Additionally, Briggs said the number of cases without known exposure — a key statistic in understanding how prevalent Covid-19 is in the community — are increasing. Over the past two months, that number was hovering around 15 percent. This week, the number ballooned to 22.7 percent.

While the numbers do raise serious concern, Briggs was careful to note that the uptick seen in Olmsted County pales in comparison to the outbreaks occurring in other states across the region, like Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas. 

“The surrounding states have all been seeing these warning signs that transmission is increasing locally,” said Briggs. “Minnesota has started to see something with this, too. We haven’t seen the rapid acceleration that some other states have, but it’s more of a turn upwards. It’s something we need to keep an eye on as a state, and Olmsted County is, unfortunately, not immune to this.”

In the coming weeks, Briggs says it is of paramount importance to avoid large gatherings and wear a face mask in public spaces. Those steps, he adds, could keep the uptick from becoming a major outbreak. 

“If there’s one thing I can tell everybody, it’s stay vigilant,” said Briggs. “We’re not through things yet, and we’ve got a potentially rough road ahead. The more we work together, the better off we’re going to be.”

Head to Olmsted County Public Health’s Covid-19 dashboard for a complete look at the latest data on the virus.

Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.

Cover graphic courtesy Olmsted County Public Health