Steele breaks previous COVID record

It took less than a week for Steele County to break its own COVID-19 positive case record.
There have been 165 new coronavirus cases over the past week, according to Public Health Director Amy Caron. The previous record was set last week with 95 new cases. “Steele really spiked. Our positive cases have quadrupled in two weeks,” said Caron.
With the onslaught of new cases, Steele’s total has eclipsed the 1,000 mark at 1,022 since the outbreak began. There have been four deaths and three people are currently hospitalized. Public Health reports that 734 people have recovered.
Caron said the virus is affecting all ages from 1 year to 80 years old, but the main contributors remain people in the 20 to 50 year range. There have been a couple workplace outbreaks and some schools are experiencing COVID cases, she said. However, the majority of the cases point to community spread where people are unknowingly transmitting the disease to others.
Another key indicator used by Public Health is the positivity rate of cases. Steele County was at 15% last week, above the state average of 12%. “I believe it will be higher this week,” Caron said, noting the numbers are released on Thursdays.
Public Health expected about 1,200 people to take advantage of free testing Monday and Tuesday at the National Guard Armory in Owatonna. Based on the county’s current 15% positivity rate, there could be 180 new cases alone reflected in next week’s total, though some of the people tested are from outside the county and would not be counted in the total.
Caron is concerned about where the county’s numbers are headed. She expects the upward trend to continue in the coming weeks. “We are climbing at a higher rate than the metro area,” she said. Asked why greater Minnesota is seeing such a spike in cases, Caron said she believes the metro area is following stricter mask requirements and practicing more social distancing. “They (metro area) are complying more than out state,” she added.
It would not surprise Caron if the recent spikes in COVID cases lead to another shutdown across Minnesota. “We are trying to convince people to put practices into place to avoid another shutdown,” she said. “Do your part personally so we don’t have to come to this again with another shutdown.”
Caron said the problem remains people are not wearing masks when they should be and they are congregating in groups of people by not practicing social distancing. “We should assume everyone is a positive contact and act accordingly,” she said.
The health leader hopes people will start taking notice of the huge increase in numbers and change their attitudes and ways. Caron is especially frustrated with people who say the vulnerable population should be isolated from others and stay home. “That is unfair and very self centered thinking,” she stressed. “This is real affecting our friends and family. We don’t want to lose anyone. One death is one too many deaths,” she said.