Dear Neighbors,
Here is some info from the Minnesota Department of Health briefing, and additional important information.
Minnesota Department of Health Briefing
We have a large number of long term care facilities in Minnesota that have at least one case of COVID-19, in which either a healthcare worker or a resident has contracted the virus. MDH has been proactively reaching out to long term care facilities and care provider organizations on a weekly basis to ensure facilities taking care of our seniors have all the tools they need to implement robust infection prevention, worker and resident safety, and outbreak containment measures.
Other Information
The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that a second, deadlier outbreak is possible this winter--coinciding with the beginning of influenza season, which will exacerbate the strain on our hospital capacity. A study reported in a journal published by the CDC examines a case in which one person who was infected with COVID-19 ate at a restaurant, and inadvertently infected nine other people, likely as a result of the restaurant's AC system keeping viral particles airborne longer and farther. This means that, in enclosed spaces with air circulation, social distancing may not be enough to prevent the spread of the virus.
A Veteran's Affairs study in which 368 male patients nationwide with COVID-19 were treated for the disease observed that, within the sample population, those treated with hydroxychloroquine alone, those treated with a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, and those treated with neither drug all had about equal rates of requiring ventilators. Also, the death rate for those in both groups who were treated with hydroxychloroquine was about twice as large as those who were not treated with the drug. You can read the study here.
We are not out of the woods yet. Minnesotans have made and continue to make great progress in slowing the spread of this disease, and buying our state time to build hospital capacity and acquire essential materials. Our understanding of this disease, the situation on the ground, and the available data are all changing rapidly. Minnesota is working constantly to respond to the demands of this health crisis, and to orient around new information. We must all continue to follow the social distancing guidelines, and we must stay home unless necessary in order to avoid greater loss of life and more prolonged economic harm in our state.
Edward Neill Elementary Food Assistance
I was honored to join the incredibly dedicated staff at Edward Neill Elementary today to pack and distribute meals for families in our community! No one should ever have to go hungry, or worry about where their next meal will come from.
Keep In Touch
As always, I am here to assist you in any way that I am able. We will get through this as long as we continue to make decisions based on the available data and information from healthcare providers in Minnesota, and continue to follow current guidelines for mitigating disease spread among Minnesotans.
Please contact me anytime with questions, input, or ideas. You can reach me at my Facebook page, by phone at 651-296-4212, or by email (preferred and quickest response) at rep.hunter.cantrell@house.mn. Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide any assistance!
Sincerely,
Hunter Cantrell
Your Neighbor and State Representative