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April 9, 2021
The Minnesota Department of Health is currently monitoring a COVID-19 outbreak related to a large K-8 wrestling tournament that was held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota between Wednesday, March 31 and Saturday, April 3.
The Northland Youth Wrestling Association (NYWA) 2021 State Wrestling Tournament was held at the PREMIER Center Complex in Sioux Falls. The event was for Minnesota youth club wrestling teams and included approximately 2,000 wrestlers in addition to spectators.
We have been made aware that 64 teams from at least 52 Minnesota counties participated in the tournament.
- Counties: Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Clay, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Kandiyohi, Le Sueur, Lyon, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmstead, Pennington, Pipestone, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Rice, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Swift, Todd, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine
As of right now, here is what we know about the COVID-19 cases:
- 14 confirmed cases associated with the event.
- 9 counties have confirmed cases associated with this event: Cass, Le Sueur, Lyon, Morrison, Murray, Rice, Todd, Wright, Yellow Medicine.
- 7 schools have confirmed cases associated with the event, including five public schools and two nonpublic schools.
Due to the close proximity and contact with another person, wrestling is a sport that carries a high risk for transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. Given the lack of mitigation, including masking and social distancing among participants and spectators, there is an increased risk for exposure.
Given the widespread geographical nature of this situation and the number of potential close contacts, we are asking all Minnesota schools to take the following steps:
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Tournament participants and their families are encouraged to seek testing between 4/9/2021 and 4/14/2021.
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Increase compliance with prevention efforts and be aware of any symptom(s) of illness. This includes:
- Strict and active screening for symptoms or recent exposure to COVID-19.
- Staying home when sick.
- Strict adherence to masking.
- Strict adherence to social distancing.
- Delay nonessential travel and social gatherings.
- After traveling out of state:
- Stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
The state of Minnesota is experiencing high circulation of variants. It is currently estimated that 50% of all COVID-19 cases in Minnesota are the B.1.1.7. variant which spreads more easily. These prevention measures work for all variants.
Additional information on COVID-19 and prevention can be found at Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Minnesota Dept. of Health (state.mn.us).
This is an evolving situation. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
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