Olmsted County moves to 'low' risk level for Covid-19

Covid-19 activity in Olmsted County has dropped below the threshold in which the CDC recommends wearing masks indoors.

As of Sunday, the county had a rate of 190 cases per 100,000 people over the latest seven-day period. Hospitalizations were down 40 percent week-to-week, with the number now at 7.5 admissions per 100,000 people.

Both numbers, along with a rapidly declining rate of ICU visits, classify Olmsted County as a community with a “low” level of Covid activity, according to updated guidelines released by the CDC on Feb. 25.

Up until last weekend, the county had met the benchmark for a “high” risk area, meaning the CDC still recommended masks in indoor public settings.

In anticipation of the new designation, Rochester Public Schools had announced it would be dropping its mask mandate district-wide beginning this week. Many businesses have also dropped mask requirements.

Inside city and county buildings, a mask mandate remains in effect — though that could change later this week. A county spokesperson said they are waiting for the CDC to officially update its Covid-19 Community Level dashboard before making any changes. The widget is updated every Thursday.

Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.