Horizon Public Health has been notified by the Minnesota Department of Health of the first lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 in Pope County. The announcement was published by press release around 8 p.m. Monday, May 4. Case investigations and contact tracing will be performed by the Minnesota Department of Health.
“Cases of COVID-19 have been increasing across the state and we now have it confirmed in Pope County,” said Ann Stehn, Public Health Administrator for Horizon. Public Health officials state that the recommended actions for the general public remain the same as we all work together to slow the spread of this virus:
- Stay home if you are sick
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Avoid touching your face
- Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces
- Practice social distancing—six (6) feet from others
- Follow Minnesota’s Stay At Home order, don’t gather with others
- Limit trips for essential items
- Call first, when possible, before seeking healthcare and follow your provider’s instructions
- Wear a face covering when in public to protect others
The public is encouraged to call the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline if they have health questions at 1-800-657-3903. The hotline is staffed 7 days per week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit horizonpublichealth.org, the Minnesota Department of Health at health.state.mn.us, or the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov for accurate information that is regularly updated.