Otter Tail County Public Health Advises Precautions as COVID-19 Cases Rise

The Otter Tail County Public Health Department is advising people to take precautions by getting vaccinated and masking indoors.

The number of new confirmed cases of COVID-19 has continued to increase in Otter Tail County in recent weeks. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the County has a high level of COVID-19 transmission. This trend is seen in most counties, with 86 of the 87 counties in Minnesota, seeing substantial or high transmission rates of COVID-19. For a link to the CDC county transmission data and other health information data visit ottertailcountymn.us.

The rates of people testing positive for COVID-19 has sharply increased in the last month.

• Lab confirmed COVID-19 cases have risen from an average of 14 per week in July to 84 cases per week to date in August.
• 114 lab confirmed cases were reported the week of 8/15- 8/21.
• The most recent data (8/8-8/14) shows a case rate per 10,000 people of 13.6 for Otter Tail County.  Four weeks ago, in July, the case rate per 10,000 was 2.4.
• Hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths have also risen.

“Getting vaccinated continues to have the largest public health impact for our communities. The current COVID-19 vaccines continue to protect extremely well against severe disease and death,” said Jody Lien, Otter Tail County Public Health Director. “With the Delta variant we are seeing higher transmission rates, masking indoors is also strongly recommended.”

More young children and teens in Otter Tail County have also tested positive for COVID-19. The CDC strongly encourages those 12 and older to get vaccinated. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for those age 16 and older.  Those age 12 to 15 continue to be eligible for Pfizer under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

“As we work with school districts in Otter Tail County on safely returning to the classroom this fall, community efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will have a direct impact in supporting in person learning,” added Kristi Wentworth, Assistant Director of Otter Tail County Public Health.

“Beyond getting vaccinated, using all our tools for prevention and layering those will continue to have an overall impact in decreasing COVID-19 transmission in our community,” remarked Wentworth.  “Masking indoors, hand washing, allowing space between your household and others when gathering, testing with symptoms or exposure, continue to all remain important.”

Contact your healthcare provider for testing and vaccination information. Many walk-in vaccine clinic opportunities are available in the area. Each Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Otter Tail County Public Health hosts a walk-in clinic at the Government Services Center at 520 West Fir Avenue in Fergus Falls. Please call 218.998.8320 if you have questions. You may schedule an appointment for Public Health COVID-19 community vaccine clinics hosted in the area by registering at bit.ly/2LsgD97.

Press Release from Otter Tail County