Cases spike again in Steele County

After a reprieve from excessive COVID-19 cases in Steele County, things are heading in the wrong direction.
Public Health Director Amy Caron said Steele County saw 111 new cases over the past week, including 53 over this past weekend.
“There are some workplace outbreaks right now,” said Caron. “There definitely has been a spike.”
Owatonna Hospital, Caron said, is reporting a rise in COVID cases requiring hospitalization. She added that she has also found more people are coming in to get tested at testing sites in the county.
In addition to the spike of cases, Steele County reported another death over the past week, bringing the county’s death total to 13. The latest death involved a man in his 90s who had been living in a long-term care facility. Caron said yet another death is being investigated at this time, but no official ruling has been made.
The county continues to struggle to get enough vaccine for the area. Caron said both Steele and Dodge counties are getting only 100 doses this week. Steele County’s doses will be given at a clinic on Wednesday, while Dodge County’s will be given on Thursday.
Steele and Dodge counties have the capacity to expand vaccinations further, but they are not getting the doses they request. Caron said she requests 500 doses for Steele County and 300 doses for Dodge each week. “I don’t know where the hold up is,” she said, adding she suspects it’s at the federal level.
Vaccination appointments for the following week are taken on Friday afternoons. Caron said they continue to fill up within two hours of being posted online. People can sign up at www.co.steele.mn.us.
As of Monday, 45% of Steele County residents have received at least the first dose of vaccination, Caron said.
With proms and graduations right around the corner, Caron urges 18-year-olds to get vaccinated as soon as they can to help ensure those milestone events will occur.
 
COVID-19 VACCINE WATCH
                    First Doses   Second Doses
 
Steele:            3,304              2,101
                       
Dodge:            2,027              1,484
 
Source: Steele County Public Health