NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 10, 2020
CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
Results announced for COVID-19 testing event in Chisholm
Results have been tallied from the two-day COVID-19 testing event in Chisholm in late July. A total of 1,679 people were tested, with four of those people testing positive.
Those who tested positive were contacted by phone within 72 hours and provided guidance on quarantining themselves and seeking medical care if needed.
"Going into this, we weren't entirely sure what to expect for results," said Amy Westbrook, St. Louis County Public Health division director. "Typically these free community events have yielded a very low positive test percentage, and we are glad that was the case here.
"This provides us a point-in-time picture for the presence of the virus in this region," Westbrook added, "and we have requested more detailed demographic information from the state regarding age and ZIP codes of those who tested because that will give us an even better understanding. But we are very appreciative of the tremendous response we saw, and the number of people who thanked us for providing the testing opportunity."
The free tests were provided in cooperation between St. Louis County Public Health and the State Emergency Operations Center. The St. Louis County Fairgrounds in Chisholm donated use of its facilities, with only a minimal cost to cover electricity.
St. Louis County has seen a significant increase in recent weeks in the number of confirmed cases in the county. Community transmission has become the dominant form of exposure.
In early July, it was more rural parts of the county that saw a larger percentage of cases, but more recently the Duluth area has seen the largest growth. As of today, the Minnesota Department of Health is reporting a total of 570 confirmed cases in St. Louis County.
Some notable trends among the cases in St. Louis County:
- As more and more young people become infected, the median age of people with confirmed cases continues to decrease. In April, the median age was 68 years old. By June, the median age had dropped to 54. Now it is 36 years of age.
- The fastest growing age group for COVID-19 cases in St. Louis County now is 6-19 year olds. In June this age group represented only 2% of cases and now it is almost 14%.
- The 20-29 year old age group continues to have the highest number of cases, with 29% of the total cases in the county.
Everyone is urged to remain vigilant and continue practicing the prevention habits that have been emphasized for months: stay home when sick, wear a mask, maintain six feet of physical distancing, and wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
To learn more about the COVID-19 situation in St. Louis County and to view the county's COVID-19 online interactive dashboard, visit stlouiscountymn.gov/covid19.
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