The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota jumped by 17 from Tuesday to Wednesday for a total of 77 cases statewide.
There is no evidence of clustering except in households, but health officials say we need to assume it is circulating. Minnesota Department of Health officials Tuesday announced they are restricting testing to hospitalized people, healthcare workers and people living on congregate housing such as long-term care due to a short supply of testing materials nationwide, but Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann says the low availability of tests should not change anyone’s behavior in regards to staying home when sick and social distancing.
"The laboratory confirmation doesn't matter," she said. "What matters is you and your household are staying out of the public. When the messaging in the media continue to be the testing, that gives the idea that testing has a greater value than staying home and I think that's a message we really need to change."
It's still cold and flu season which can put people into the ICU in some situations and the aim is to keep those hospital settings available for those who truly need it. Ehresmann encourages employers to stop requiring a positive confirmation to allow for paid sick time. Basically, if you're sick, stay home for seven days plus three days without a fever without the aid of fever-reducing medication. Isolate for 14 days if a household member is ill.
Ehresmann says people should not depend on online diagnostic tests to confirm a case. Only a lab can do that, and sharing that experience only adds to connective anxiety about the virus. Also, as Ehresmann reiterated, a positive test is not the definitive piece of information: staying home when sick is vital.
One of the positive cases announced yesterday was a Hennepin health care worker. Sixteen counties have at least one confirmed case. There are now six cases of community transmission. Thirteen healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID-19, but the investigation showed those were travel-related, not through their work.
There are no deaths in Minnesota; 114 nationwide have died.