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BROWN COUNTY -- The global COVID-19 pandemic has officially started its third year.
This new coronavirus was first identified in late 2019 and was partially named for that year. However, it was not until three months into 2020 that the world started taking serious notice of the virus. By the start of 2021, COVID-19 was a part of daily life and it would remain that way until the end of the year.
In Brown County, the pandemic would have a greater impact in 2021 than it did in 2020. Public Health recorded 2,044 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 2020 and 3,007 cases in 2021.
Though case rates would ultimately be higher in 2021, the year started with a sense of optimism. A COVID-19 vaccine had been recently approved and was already being administered to the medical staff at New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC). NUMC was serving as a regional vaccine hub because it had the cold storage facilities necessary to store the Pfizer vaccine.
In January 2021, the vaccine was in high demand, but available doses were limited to frontline workers, senior citizens and people with pre-existing conditions. Even with the limited supply, 2,065 vaccines were administered in Brown County during the first month of 2021. The was hope the drugs from Pfizer and Moderna represented a light at the tunnel.
Brown County Public Health Director Karen Mortiz said one year ago, she was optimistic the COVID-19 pandemic would come to an end in 2021. She believed it could be reduced to an endemic concern -- a disease that is consistently present, but limited in the spread. This seemed possible in January 2021.
"We were very optimistic through most of the year until late July," she said.
The first half of 2021 showed significant progress, with declining virus cases and increasing vaccinations. In Brown County, Public Health only reported 209 virus cases in January 2021. These numbers would remain stable going into February 2021 with only 207 new COVID-19 cases.
Vaccines administered nearly doubled between January and February. Over 4,200 doses of the vaccine were given in the second month. March 2021 saw the number of vaccines administered double again to 8,813. Roughly 30% of the county was vaccinated.
March 2021 marked the high point for vaccinations in Brown County. More vaccine doses were administered in that month than any other. Statewide, demand for the vaccine continued to rise through April, but local interest started to wane. There were 6,234 vaccines doses given in April, a drop of over 2,000 doses. It would drop more radically in May 2021 with only 2,366 vaccines administered.
By late spring, every adult citizen of Brown County was eligible to receive the vaccine. The vaccines were also approved for people 12 and older. It seemed likely a majority of the United States population could be vaccinated before the end of the year.
In May, President Joe Biden announced a goal to have 70% of the adult population vaccinated by July 4. That same month in Brown County, only 45 COVID cases were reported, the lowest infection rate in 11 months. More importantly, the number of COVID deaths also dropped. Throughout the summer, Brown County would not record a single COVID-related death.
Only eight COVID cases were reported in Brown County during June 2021. Before the month was over, restrictions on most businesses were lifted.
Gov. Tim Walz ended the statewide emergency on July 1. Masking mandates were relaxed. The county mostly returned to the pre-COVID routine. However, Biden's goal of vaccinating 70% of the adult population fell short.
July 2021 saw the lowest monthly vaccination rate of the year for Brown with only 660 vaccines administered. This was not limited to Brown County. July was the lowest month for vaccinations in Minnesota. It was around mid-July the optimism of public health officials started to waver.
Moritz said the arrival of the delta strain of COVID in the middle of July changed their outlook on the pandemic. It hit the southern states first.
Moritz said she was still optimistic Minnesota would hold against the variant because the state had a relatively high vaccination rate, but once the Twin Cities metro area began to see an uptick in cases, she realized the state was in for another surge.
By August 2021, COVID cases began to climb again, jumping from 24 in July to 234 in August. With the state of emergency over, masking wearing and large public gathers increased and the virus started to spread. The delta variant of COVID also spread easier and caused greater illness. By the end of the summer, the delta became the dominant strain of the virus in Brown County.
Demand for the vaccine ramped up again in August with 1,288 doses administered and another 1,503 administered in September. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had yet to approve any of the three vaccines for children 11 and under.
As the new school year was scheduled to start, students remained the largest unvaccinated demographic. From the start of the pandemic, senior citizens were considered the most vulnerable to COVID, but by fall of 2021 most people over 65 were vaccinated. The virus was primarily spreading through younger demographics. Public health did see an increase in viral cases among children throughout the fall.
The state ultimately left it up to individual schools on whether to require masking. This led to packed school board meetings statewide. In Brown County, many opposed any return to the mask requirement or any regulations that restricted the spread of COVID.
From the start of 2021, there were many skeptics of the COVID vaccines. Even as the vaccine proved effective, many refused to get the vaccine. On the federal level, there was a push to mandate the vaccine or testing for businesses with over 100 employees. This led to pushing back from anti-vaccination groups, including multiple protests in New Ulm.
The legal status of the vaccine mandate is currently being discussed in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Throughout the fall, COVID cases remained high with 455 cases in September and 537 cases in October. Currently, October 2021 has the second-highest monthly COVID numbers. The fall also saw the rise in the number of COVID deaths. The county was spared COVID deaths in the summer, but with the new delta variant and no mask requirements, the spread and severity of COVID increased.
Hospitalizations were also at an all-time high. ICU beds were in short supply, statewide. New Ulm Medical Center confirmed the surge that began in October and is ongoing it the worst since the pandemic started. Patients have been forced to wait in emergency rooms for an available bed.
Moritz said the severe cases have been limited to the unvaccinated. Breakthrough cases have occurred statewide, but less than 5% of vaccinated people are contracting COVID. Those who do catch breakthrough COVID reported milder symptoms with less need for hospitalization.
In early November, the FDA approved the vaccine for children 5 years to 11 leading to a dramatic increase in vaccinations. Families that were unable to vaccinate children before rushed to make appointments the week it became available. In addition to the youth vaccine, booster vaccinations were made available. Demand has remained high for the booster. Public health booster clinics continue to be fully booked.
As 2021 came to end a new concern hit the state. In Late November a new variant called Omincron was detected in a Minnesota man. The omicron variant has started to become the dominant variant of the virus, replacing delta.
Information about the omicron variant is still being gathered. It has already caused a significant increase in cases nationwide, but whether it represents a greater danger is uncertain.
Moritz said cases are increasing, but the COVID death rates seem to be dropping. However, in terms of COVID deaths, 2021 was not a better year for Brown County.
Statewide, 2021 deaths were slightly lower than 2020, but in Brown Councy, COVID death rates in 2021 were identical with 2020. Both years saw 33 COVID deaths each.
Before the end of the year, Brown County had reached over 5,000 infections since the start of the pandemic, with 3,000 of the cases reported in 2021. As 2021 came to an end it was clear COVID would remain a daily reality in 2022.
Moritz remains optimistic the COVID pandemic can be reduced to endemic concern in 2022. She believes COVID could become a concern similar to influenza.
"I have to be optimistic," she said. "We have more people vaccinated and continued to give boosters." She is hopeful vaccines will continue to improve and stay ahead of any new variants.
Public Health, NUMC and pharmacies throughout Brown County are still offering vaccinations. Currently, 67.8% of Brown County's 5 and older population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.