State Epidemiologists Report More Than 400 COVID19 Cases Related To Pre K12 Schools In The State Of Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Health has reported more than 400 COVID19 cases that are considered to be linked to pre-K-12 schools in the state. State epidemiologists have claimed that schools are expected to see more COVID19 impact as cases have shot up high in the first week of September. They have said that pre-K-12 students and staff members have been contagious while they have been inside the school buildings. A total of 410 cases of COVID19 have been reported in the early week of September across the state, while there have been 152 cases in the previous week. State health officials have said that unvaccinated children and school buildings might have the potential to shoot up the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that can lead to COVID19 disease. As per the experts, the rate of transmission has already been higher prior to the start of in-person learning in schools this year as compared to the last year. Therefore, there is a greater risk of virus spread in schools that can make the situation even worse in communities. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm has said that in the next few weeks, the spread of the virus from these cases in their families and communities will start emerging very soon. This week, the COVID19 pandemic has led to 678978 incidents and 7970 deaths in the state of Minnesota. Experts have said that senior citizens account for nearly 87 percent of deaths in the state. A report has shown that a person in the age range of 25 to 29 years from Dakota County as well has died In Minnesota. As per the data, it is the 19th death due to COVID19 among people who have been younger than 30 years of age in Minnesota.

Nearly 276 COVID19 cases linked to schools as well have surfaced in the last week in Minnesota. Health experts have said that the number of cases is likely to shoot up when the state will make updated figures linked to pre-K-12 schools public next week. A top state epidemiologist named, Dr. Ruth Lynfield has said that COVID19 cases linked to pre-K-12 schools and youth programs will further shoot up in the next week. As per the latest updates, four out of 26 pre-K-12 school buildings that have seen outbreaks of five or more cases, have been found in the Owatonna Public Schools, two of these pre-K-12 school buildings are located in the Waconia Public Schools. Although these two districts suggest mask-wearing in schools but do not require it mandatorily. In two pre-K-12 school buildings that are situated in the Rochester Public Schools, the district has made mask-wearing mandatory to reduce the spread of the virus. Superintendent of Owatonna, Jeff Elstad has said that only 0.7 percent of its 5000 students have been detected with COVID19 infection. He has said that the district is planning to make mask-wearing mandatory if infections among students rise to 5 percent. Health experts have said that only 10 percent of high school students have been wearing masks in schools. On the other hand, students in elementary schools have been wearing masks voluntarily. Interim Superintendent of Rochester Public Schools, Kent Pekel has said that people should not raise questions on schools’ COVID19 response due to an outbreak. Superintendent has said that an outbreak can be as only five cases in a building within two weeks even if a district has more than 18000 students.