NEW ULM — Brown County reached more than 100 cases of confirmed COVID-19 among residents Aug. 19, since the first reported case in March.

Brown County currently has 10 cases in isolation and actively infectious, 88 have recovered and are considered non-infectious, and two cases have been fatal.

With the end of August approaching and schools getting ready to resume, Brown County Public Health has some recommendations for the residents of Brown County. It is extremely important that everyone in the communities and especially those in the school community continue to take steps to reduce COVID-19 transmission seriously, said officials. The most critical recommendations are 6 foot social distancing,limiting children’s playdates, keeping children home when sick, staying home from work if sick, wearing a mask and diligent hand hygiene,

Continue to participate in annual well child checks, ensure vaccinations are up to date, make sure children are getting a well-balanced diet, at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, and plenty of sleep.

Please talk to your children, inform them of the current circumstances and provide support by taking the appropriate measures to protect their mental health.

These protective recommendations will be most effective when they are practiced in the workplace and schools, and in the social lives of individuals attending the school environments.

Following all of the protective recommendations is the best and most effective way to slow the spread of disease in our communities and will support returning schools’ current plans of in person and hybrid schedules.

For parents of school aged children, it will be important to educate children on notifying a teacher or another responsible adult if at any point during the day they children start feeling ill. Parents should be sure to read their schools COVID preparedness plans for what to do if their child is ill. In these plans it will address the schools individual policy for screening for symptoms of COVID-19. The school plans will provide resources to parents for determining if their child should be excluded from school based on the recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health and Brown County Public Health. Should children meet the criteria for exclusion, parents and or guardians will keep their child home, notify the school and connect with their healthcare provider to pursue testing.

With many unknowns in regards to schools reopening and fall viral illnesses, particularly influenza season, it will be of the utmost importance for the community members to receive their flu shots this year, and the earlier the better. Flu vaccination will be an important strategy to reduce flu burden, reduce disease transmission of influenza and will also preserve scarce health resources for care of those infected with, hospitalized and seriously ill from COVID-19. Talk to your healthcare provider for information regarding vaccination for influenza. No insurance? Call Brown County Public Health to schedule an appointment.