GRANITE FALLS — Yellow Medicine County reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
A man in his 30s tested positive for the virus, according to Liz Auch, director of Countryside Public Health. The man has self-quarantined at his home and is following Minnesota Department of Health isolation guidelines during his recovery.
Countryside Public Health has now confirmed three COVID-19 cases, one each in Yellow Medicine, Lac qui Parle and Big Stone counties. There were no confirmed cases in Chippewa and Swift counties as of Wednesday. Auch said she was informed that the Big Stone and Lac qui Parle cases were international travel-related.
The public health director urges everyone to continue social distancing practices to prevent community spread of the virus. Social distancing is working to slow the spread of the virus, which can reduce the strain on our health systems, she said.
“I keep pushing that so hard because I think we can flatten the curve, especially in our rural communities,” she said.
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Auch said her staff remains committed to working with residents to slow the spread and protect lives.
She pointed out that people are stepping up in many ways.
On Tuesday, the Countryside Public Health board of directors voted unanimously to allow the agency’s emergency preparedness coordinator to postpone her retirement. Gloria Tobias, who has served the agency for 39 years, was scheduled to retire Tuesday. Tobias had decided in consultation with her husband that she was willing to stay in her role during the pandemic, Auch said.
As of Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Health had reported 689 confirmed cases in the state, and 17 deaths.
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