After weeks as Minnesotaâs top COVID-spreading county, Itasca is seeing significant improvements as vaccination rates rise.
Four variants of the virus causing COVID-19 have been identified in Itasca County since January, contributing to an explosion of cases between February and May. Last week, the 14-day rate of infection for every 10,000 Itasca residents was 73.8. This week, the rate is 55.4 percent. Between May 12 and 18, 102 new cases were identified in the community compared to 151 the previous week.
Itasca County saw another death due to COVID this week, a woman in her 90s.
âFor those who have been vaccinated, the news in our country, state and county is very good,â said Kelly Chandler, Itasca County Public Health division manager. âThe vaccines work and community-wide immunity is on the horizon. But for those who are not yet vaccinated, the risks right now are still very real. Itasca County is not at a place of community (herd) immunityâ
The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is excited to announce the addition of five new members to their Board of Directors: Christina Andersen, Sarah Anderson, Kyle Erickson, Diane Larson and Josh Skelton. They bring extensive community leadership expertise, as well as their own unique experiences, to the Foundationâs work. Here is a little background on each of them.
Christina Andersen is currently the founder and managing director of CENTER Spa & Studio, as well as NoPo Coffee Company, in Grand Rapids. She also teaches contemporary/modern dance at the Reif Center for Performing Arts and sits on the Board of Directors at Woodland Bank. Prior to moving back to Grand Rapids in 2003, Christina received her BA in Economics and Dance from St. Olaf College, worked for a marketing firm in Minneapolis, and was the Investor Relations contact for a small private equity firm in New York City. She and her husband, with their two children, love mountain-biking, downhill skiing,
Itasca County saw hopeful signs this week after three months of climbing rates of COVID-19 spread and last weekâs news of the Brazil variant being found in the county.
While still very high, Itasca Countyâs 14-day average per 10,000 residents dropped from the mid-80s last week to 73.8 this week (compared to a low of 14 in February). During the past seven days, 120 Itasca County residents tested positive for COVID and 200 did the week before.Â
Itasca County saw two additional COVID-related deaths this week, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 60s.
âItasca Countyâs cases are moving in a better direction than in past months, but the deaths of two residents this week are grim reminders of how serious COVID remains, especially for those vulnerable and unvaccinated. Our hearts are with those who have suffered through loss and grief during the pandemic,â said Kelly Chandler, Itasca County Public Health division manager.
2021 Burggrafâs Ace Hardware Caring Fore Kids Charity Classic takes place May 31-June 4
In 2014, the Caring Fore Kids fund at Grand Itasca Foundation was established with the intent of expanding and enhancing pediatric care at Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital. Since that time, Caring Fore Kids has funded more than $350,000 in projects, programs, and equipment that simply would not have been possible without it. Now in its 8th year, the Burggrafâs Ace Hardware Caring Fore Kids Charity Classic is the primary fundraiser for the Caring Fore Kids fund. But funds are also raised in other ways throughout the year, such as when Burggrafâs Ace Hardware customers round up their purchase to the nearest dollar, Grand Itasca employees make a donation to wear jeans to work on Fridays, and VanDyke Elementary kids collect Kindness Coins to support the fund. While each of these are small on their own, they add up to big impact for kids receiving care at Grand Itasca. The impact is seen
Itasca County was alerted on Wednesday, May 5 that a fourth variant of the virus that causes COVID is active in the county. The P.1 variant, originating in Brazil, was identified through genetic sequencing of an Itasca County COVID sample.Â
Itasca County is the only county in Northeast Minnesota discovered to have all four of the most common variants of the SARS virus, likely contributing to higher spread here, especially among children and young adults. Since March 26, Itasca County has seen the emergence of the B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.427/429 (California), B.1.526 (New York) and P.1 (Brazilian) strains. State surveillance laboratories collect random samples from positive COVID cases throughout the state for testing. Â