Navigating the Current Wave: COVID-19 Insights and Guidelines for Cook County, Minnesota
Jan 17, 2024 11:14AM ● By Content Editor
Image: COVID-19 by County | CDC
By Andrea Tofte, Public Health Educator; Emergency Preparedness Coordinator; Healthy Housing Specialist - Cook County Public Health and Human Services - January 17, 2024
As we move into 2024, Cook County, Minnesota, like much of the United States, faces a significant wave of respiratory illnesses, including a notable rise in COVID-19 cases. The hospital admission data for the county shows an increase in admissions (this data is not real-time and is subject to a time lag due to the CDC's data collection and verification processes, updated weekly on Thursdays). In Cook County, the reported COVID-19 hospital admission levels are calculated based on data aggregated from the Health Service Area (HSA) that encompasses not only Cook County itself but also includes the area of Duluth. This HSA approach is particularly crucial for ensuring accurate and comprehensive healthcare data analysis, especially in regions with limited medical facilities.
By incorporating data from a broader area, including significant healthcare centers like Duluth, the HSA provides a more holistic view of hospital admissions related to COVID-19. This method acknowledges that patients may seek care outside of their immediate localities, and as such, the hospital admission figures for Cook County reflect the collective healthcare utilization within its associated HSA. Consequently, these admission levels offer a more precise representation of the regional healthcare demands and challenges, aiding in better resource allocation and public health response strategies.
The presence of the JN.1 subvariant and high wastewater SARS-CoV-2 viral activity levels underline the urgency of the situation.
CDC COVID Data Tracker: Wastewater Surveillance
General Guidelines at All Levels:
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. More info: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
Maintain good ventilation. Guidance: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/Improving-Ventilation-Home.html
Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
Follow isolation and exposure recommendations: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html
High-risk individuals should consult healthcare providers for additional actions.
Additional Measures for Medium and High Levels:
High-risk individuals should wear high-quality masks indoors in public.
Consider self-testing and mask-wearing around high-risk individuals.
People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a high-quality mask or respirator when indoors in public: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/masks.html
If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for getting very sick, consider self-testing to detect infection before contact and wearing a high-quality mask indoors with them.
Insights into the "Big Three" - COVID-19, Flu, and RSV:
COVID-19: The JN.1 subvariant is currently dominant, and wastewater data suggests high community transmission. Hospitalization rates, while increasing, are lower compared to the previous winter, thanks to vaccinations.
Flu: The flu season appears to be slowing down, with vaccines being a good match for the circulating strains.
RSV: Hospitalizations are declining, indicating a peak has passed.
The ongoing pandemic continues to affect work absences, and other illnesses like norovirus are also impacting public health. Recent studies have shown that fall 2023 vaccines are effective against hospitalization and that additional vaccine doses can significantly reduce the risk of long-term COVID-19 (1).
Transmission risk increases with prolonged exposure, and recent findings suggest that the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is not driven by temperature or humidity changes, indicating potential multiple waves per year.
As Cook County navigates this complex health landscape, staying informed and adhering to public health guidelines remains crucial. Vaccinations, proper ventilation, and appropriate use of masks and testing can help mitigate the impact of the current wave and protect the community.
Contact Information: Andrea Tofte
Public Health Educator
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Healthy Housing Specialist
Cook County Public Health and Human Services
Office: (218) 387-3605 | Cell: (218) 264-9465
