Coronavirus (COVID-19)

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus that has not been found in people before. It is not the same coronavirus that caused Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS_CoV) in 2012, however, it is in the same family of virus.

Isanti County Public Health (ICPH) is communicating frequently with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and monitoring Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) communications to maintain situational awareness. The Isanti County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is working with local partners to coordinate ongoing prevention and response efforts.

State of Minnesota Emergency Executive Order Directing Minnesotans to Stay at Home

To access the most up to date information on Coronavirus, including cases and travel information, please visit the following websites:

There are two hotlines for COVID-19 questions from the public.

  • Health questions: 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903, available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Schools and child care questions: 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Symptoms

According to CDC, patients with confirmed COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

Some patients have had other symptoms including muscle aches, headache, sore throat, diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell.

Contact your health care provider before going to the clinic or emergency room if your symptoms worsen at any point or you feel you need to see a doctor.

For more information, visit https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/

The best practices right now to avoid Coronavirus:

  • Stay home as much as possible, stay at least 6 feet from other people if you are in public, and avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover your cough and sneeze, preferably with a barrier like a tissue or the sleeve of your shirt
  • If you are 65 and older or have certain underlying medical conditions, stay at home and avoid situations where you could be exposed, including travel
  • Wipe down shared work spaces and commonly touched items with a disinfectant
  • Stay informed from a credible source such as CDC, MDH, ICPH, and healthcare
  • CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies). For more information from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

Safety Tip Videos:

Behavioral Health and Preparedness Resources:

Resources from the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health:

Donations

Donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and monetary donations are now being accepted by Isanti County. Contact Chad Struss (763-689-1644 or chad.struss@co.isanti.mn.us) for more information about current needs and the donation process.

Volunteers 

Isanti County Public Health is recruiting volunteers through the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds. They help Isanti County prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. MRC volunteers receive training in public health and emergency response. To volunteer with Isanti County, apply online https://www.mnresponds.org/agreement.php.