NEW ULM — COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are once again increasing in nearly all states, fueled by the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, which is much more contagious than past versions of the virus.

The Delta B.1.617.2 variant is now the most prevalent in the US and in Minnesota.

“As we head into the fall and kids go back to school, we need to do everything we can to reduce a new wave of COVID 19 infections,” said Brown County Public Health director Karen Moritz in a statement issued Friday. “The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates.”

Across the state including in Brown County, COVID 19 infections have significantly increased in the last few weeks. Minnesota has seen a 150% increase in COVID hospitalizations in the last two weeks.

In the month of June Brown County had five confirmed cases of COVID 19. In July it had 18 cases with an additional three hospitalizations.

As of Aug. 6, Brown County has had five cases so far this month. As the Delta variant continues to spread the case rate is likely to rise in Brown County, said Moritz.

“What we know about viruses and what we know so far about COVID 19 is that vaccination is our best defense at reducing the transmission,” she said. “They are also easy to access and free.”

Moritz said that while COVID-19 vaccines are very effective, no vaccine is perfect.

In some instances, fully vaccinated people will get COVID-19 and may be contagious. These are called “vaccine breakthrough cases.”

The Delta variant can lead to breakthrough infections. This means that while vaccinated people are much less likely to get sick, it will still happen in some cases.

As the number of people who are vaccinated goes up, the number of breakthrough may increase, but the vaccines remain highly effective, Moritz said.

The vast majority of the COVID 19 cases are among the unvaccinated.

Brown County Public Health along with healthcare providers and local pharmacies have the COVID 19 vaccine available for anyone age 12 years or older.

Free vaccination clinics include Thursday, Aug. 12, 2:30 to 5:20 p.m. at Brown County Public Health; Thursday, Aug. 14 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Brown County Free Fair; and 2:30 to 5:10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 at Brown County Public Health.

For COVID-19 Vacciination wait list sign up link is available at co.brown.mn.us.

As of Aug. 3, 63.4% of Brown County residents age 16 and over have completed one vaccine dose, and 61.6% have completed a vaccine series.

In addition, 93% of Brown County residents age 65 and over have been vaccinated.

For more information, call Brown County Public Health at 507-233-6820.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@

nujournal.com).