Brown County reports 44 new COVID cases

BROWN COUNTY -- Brown County Public Health reported 44 new laboratory-confirmed, COVID-19 cases on Sunday, Nov. 15.

The new cases affected people ranging in age from under four years old to people in their 90s. It raised the total number of confirmed cases in Brown County to 797. It also means there are 103 more COVID-19 cases in Brown County in the past two days.

Five people have died of COVID-19 in Brown County.

On Saturday, 59 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Brown County. Cases of people ranged in age from under age ten to those in their 90s. There were 246 active cases in isolation and 546 cases out of isolation Saturday.

On Friday, 23 new COVID cases were reported in Brown County. On Thursday, 44 new cases were reported.

The Renville County Public Health COVID-19 dashboard reported Friday that Fairfax had the most COVID-19 cases to date with 90.

Renveille County cities following Fairfax were Olivia 75, Renville 67, Hector 46, Bird Island 35, Buffalo Lake 32, Sacred Heart 29, Franklin 28, Morton 25, Danube 20.

The Renville County dashboard reported 14 COVID-19 deaths to date.

The dashboard reported 456 November cases, up from 288 in October, 146 in September and 78 in August. Most cases affected people aged 20 to 29.

In response to COVID-19 spikes, a Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update reported test result and contract tracing analysis shows the virus is disproportionally impacting younger adults age 18-35.

"Because of this, social settings that attract a younger crowd are the most significant source of COVID-19 outbreaks," read the update. "In fact, more than 70 percent of Minnesota COVID-19 outbreaks from June to November have a direct link to weddings, receptions, and similar events, a variety of private, social gatherings and late nights at bars and restaurants."

Changes to the Stay Safe Minnesota Plan effective Friday, Nov. 13 require all bars and restaurants to end dine-in service between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Indoor service will be capped at 150 people and may not exceed 50 percent of an establishment's total capacity.

Effective Nov. 13, there will be a ten-person limit of three households or less, for indoor and outdoor private social gatherings.

Minnesota offers at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for anyone who wants a test, with or without symptoms. The saliva test is just as accurate as the nasal swab test and is available at no cost, whether or not you have insurance.

Tests can be ordered online at https://www.health.state.mn.us.

For more information, visit https://mn.gov/covid19/.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.