Second case of COVID-19 confirmed in Chisago County

As of Thursday night, March 19, local authorities confirmed there has been a COVID-19 diagnosis of a Chisago County resident.

The county public health supervisor said the Minnesota Department of Health reported a virus test was positive for a person in their 30s. The illness showed in February and this person has recovered. They waited until they were no longer showing symptoms to see a doctor and have the test.

On Monday, March 23, Chisago County Health Department Administrator Courtney Wehrenberg confirmed a second case in the county.

An individual in their 40s with no history of travel or contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 is Chisago County's second confirmed case of the coronavirus. Wehrenberg said since both confirmed cases are considered to be "community acquired," we can assume that community spread of the virus is present within the county and surrounding areas.

Every single Chisago County resident can help by staying home, limiting the number of people they are in contact with, maintaining a 6-foot distance from others, and washing their hands. Public Health officials want to emphasize that people who do not have symptoms should not be tested for COVID-19. Due to national shortages of lab testing supplies, labs are currently prioritizing most testing for people who are hospitalized, for health care workers and nursing home residents.

"We continue to work with our local and state partners in a collaborative response effort to COVID-19," Wehrenberg said. "The Chisago County Health Department remains dedicated to protecting the health and safety of our residents and doing what we can to prevent further spread of the virus.”