Month: September 2020

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 714 new COVID-19 positive test along with six deaths.  There were 16,601 tests conducted for a positive rate of 4.3 percent.  Polk County reported four more positive tests.  Red Lake, Norman, and Pennington Counties reported one new case each. All the latest numbers are below – 

Updated September 6, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.

Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Many data points are collected during case interviews. Data presented below is for all cases, regardless of interview status. Data for cases pending interview may be listed as “unknown/missing.”

Not all suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this data is not representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19. Cumulative numbers are since Jan. 20, 2020.

Other Statistics

• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MIS-C) Statistics
• Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard
• Minnesota’s COVID-19 Response and Preparation Capacity
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in the U.S.
• Minnesota COVID-19 Modeling

Grand Forks Public Health, in collaboration with the University of North Dakota (UND), the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) and with support from the North Dakota National Guard, will host a Coronavirus (COVID-19) walk-up testing event, Tuesday, September 8, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Testing will be open to the general public and will take place at UND’s High Performance Center, 2419 2nd Ave N, Grand Forks.

The testing events are to increase surveillance of COVID-19 in the community. Ages 5 and older are welcome to participate, even if you do not have symptoms. The test at this event is a point in time test. If a person was tested in the early stages of the infection while incubating the virus or exposed to the virus after they were previously tested, they could then later test positive for COVID-19. Therefore, those that have previously tested negative are invited to be tested again.

If a person was identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case and does not develop symptoms it is recommended to get tested. Testing is ideal, 7-10 days after the last exposure. If the person is found to be negative, they still need to fulfill the quarantine period, as it can take up to 14 days to develop COVID-19.

Additional event details:

• Registration prior to arrival at the event is required: testreg.nd.gov.
• Pre-registration does not guarantee a test.
• There is no cost for the test and health insurance is not processed.
• Proof of residency will not be required.
• Antibody testing will not be conducted at this event.
• Those participating in testing must be at least 5 years old.
• Face coverings or masks are required, and six-foot distancing is expected.

For additional testing event details: https://und.edu/covid-19/testing.For questions related to COVID-19, the public can call the NDDoH hotline at 1-866-207-2880 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Saturday or Grand Forks Public Health at 701-787-8100, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. For more information about COVID-19 symptoms, testing and care, please visit the NDDoH website.

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 924 new positive COVID-19 cases and four deaths after 18,710 tests were conducted for a positive rate of 4.9 percent.  Polk County reported 4 new cases and Pennington County reported two new cases.  All the information is below. 

Updated September 5, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.

Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Many data points are collected during case interviews. Data presented below is for all cases, regardless of interview status. Data for cases pending interview may be listed as “unknown/missing.”

Not all suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this data is not representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19. Cumulative numbers are since Jan. 20, 2020.

Other Statistics

• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MIS-C) Statistics
• Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard
• Minnesota’s COVID-19 Response and Preparation Capacity
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in the U.S.
• Minnesota COVID-19 Modeling

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a motorcycle accident with injuries on Friday, September 4 at 7:40 p.m. on 9th Street NW near the intersection of Mark Avenue North in the City of Fosston.  The accident was reported after a motorcycle struck a tree.  Polk County deputies arrived and identified the driver as Carl James Gustafson, age 22, of Fosston.  Gustafson sustained severe injuries and was transported by ambulance to Essentia Health in Fosston, and subsequently transported by helicopter to Sanford in Fargo, ND.

After an initial investigation, it is believed that speed was a factor in the crash.  The motorcycle sustained severe disabling damage and was towed from the scene.

This crash is under investigation. No further information will be released at this time.

Also responding to this incident were the Essentia Ambulance, Fosston Fire Department and the Minnesota State Patrol.

Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski has reached out to local bar and restaurant owners to encourage them to follow state guidelines with the upcoming risk level change to a moderate level for Grand Forks County for COVID-19.

Mayor Bochenski shared the North Dakota Smart Restart guidelines with these businesses to review what a risk level change means for them.  Specifically, the moderate risk level recommends but does not mandate restaurants and bars to operate at 50% capacity and restrict self-service.

“I encourage businesses to follow these recommendations.”  Mayor Bochenski said.  “The more help we can get from the private sector to help stop the spread of this virus without shutting down businesses again the better.  A lot of great work has been done by our business community already as they have dealt with COVID-19.  At least for the short term, if we stay apart we can stay together.”

Governor Doug Burgum will change Grand Forks County’s risk level from a Green (low risk) to a yellow (moderate risk) at 5 pm today. 

The goal of moving counties to moderate risk is to decrease transmissible moments and giving the virus less opportunities to spread.

• Avoid large gatherings and social distance
• Wear masks in public where social distancing isn’t possible
• Wash your hands frequently.

On Wednesday, September 2, Red Lake County Sheriff’s deputies assisted members of the Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force with the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Brooks.
Approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine, along with other drug-related items were seized.  
Joseph Marvin Goulet, 30 of Brooks, was arrested.  He was taken to the jail in Crookston and was booked for felony 1st degree-controlled substance crime.  Goulet appeared in court on Friday, September 4 where he was ordered to pay $7,500 cash and to abide by the ordered conditions prior to his release and still remains in custody. 

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting 856 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths.  There were seven new cases of COVID-19 in Polk County bringing the total cases to 218.  The 856 positive cases came from 18,693 completed tests for a positive rate of 4.6 percent.

Updated September 4, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.

Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Many data points are collected during case interviews. Data presented below is for all cases, regardless of interview status. Data for cases pending interview may be listed as “unknown/missing.”

Not all suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this data is not representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19. Cumulative numbers are since Jan. 20, 2020.

Other Statistics

• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MIS-C) Statistics
• Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard
• Minnesota’s COVID-19 Response and Preparation Capacity
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in the U.S.
• Minnesota COVID-19 Modeling

Data in the data tables is correct as of 11 a.m. daily. Dynamic images and maps for case demographics, likely exposure, residence, and residence type will update shortly after 11 a.m. daily and will not work if your browser is in compatibility mode.