The end of the national Public Health Emergency (PHE) related to COVID-19 was Thursday, May 11, 2023. Cook County MN Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) would like to remind our community that even though the federal government is ending the national public health emergency, COVID-19 isn’t going away. 

While COVID-19 remains the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, we are now at a point in the pandemic where we, as a population, have broader immunity against the virus. COVID-19 remains a public health threat, but we now have tools like testing, treatment, and vaccination that can help to manage the impact of COVID-19.

With the end of the public health emergency, the primary changes the public will notice relate to how data on COVID-19 is reported:

• Cook County PHHS will no longer publish weekly social media updates on vaccination rates, new cases, and the COVID-19 Community Level after this week.
• The CDC will retire its COVID-19 Community Levels as a tool for understanding how much of the virus is spreading in different areas.
• The Cook County COVID-19 hub website (http://cookcountycovid19.org) will begin to redirect to the general Cook County PHHS website on Thursday, May 18. Links to general information on COVID-19 including guidance on what to do if you test positive or are exposed to COVID-19 will continue to be linked from this site.

Most other public health recommendations surrounding COVID-19 will stay the same:

o   Testing for COVID-19 and KN-95 masks will continue to be available through both the North Shore Health lab and through over-the-counter tests that can be picked up at a variety of locations throughout the County (the Grand Marais Library, Clearview General Store, Grand Portage Health Services, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic pharmacy, Lockport Market, and the front desk of Public Health and Human Services at the Cook County Courthouse).

o   Treatment options for COVID-19 will continue to be available in consultation with a medical provider both locally and through the Minnesota Department of Health’s “Telehealth to Treat” program
(https://mn.gov/covid19/treatments/telehealth.jsp).

o   The strongest protection against severe outcomes due to COVID-19 continues to be staying up to date with vaccinations. You can access COVID-19 vaccination locally for adults and children at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic or for adults only at Grand Portage Health Services.

o   Continue to follow guidance to isolate at home if you test positive for COVID-19 for a minimum of five days (https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/case.pdf) and to follow guidance for what to do after being exposed to COVID-19 (https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/contact.pdf) (wear a mask for 10 days, watch for symptoms, and test on day 6 after an exposure).

o   Continue to follow best practices for general respiratory disease prevention (stay home when sick, wash your hands, and cover your cough). These don’t just help prevent COVID-19, they help prevent many other infectious diseases too.

If community members have questions, they can call Cook County Public Health at 218-387-3605.

About Cook County, MN 

Cook County encompasses the sovereign nation of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; the City of Grand Marais; the Townships of Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder; and unincorporated areas in the easternmost part of Minnesota’s North Shore. Cook County Government values transparency and strives to deliver superior services and programs in a fiscally responsible way. We value the dignity of all County residents and seek to create a community that provides opportunity for all. Many of our offices are in the Cook County Courthouse at 411 W 2nd St, Grand Marais 55604. Other departments and facilities, such as the Airport, Community Center, Highway and Sheriff are located nearby. Call 218-387-3000 or visit: https://co.cook.mn.us.

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Contact: Grace Grinager, Cook County Public Health Supervisor, [email protected], 218-387-3605