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State health officials reported Friday evening that there is a “rapid growth outbreak” of UK variant B117 COVID-19 in the southwestern twin cities.
The Minnesota Department of Health says there has been a 62% increase in COVID cases in Carver County between February 24 and March 4, and the UK variant, which scientists have determined is more transmissible than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. is playing a role in this rise.
In addition, MDH says it has traced “at least” 68 cases of COVID-19 that have been linked to participants in “school- and club-sponsored sports activities, including hockey, wrestling, basketball, alpine skiing, and other sports. “.
He has subsequently experienced an increase in cases at gyms and fitness centers in Carver County, which contact tracers have linked to sports-related cases.
MDH says it recommends a “countywide break” in youth sports for two weeks starting Monday as a result, as well as “active screening, weekly tests of athletes and coaches, no meetings before / after games.”
The department also recommends that Carver County schools consider stopping extracurricular activities in which “complete distancing cannot be maintained” and local gyms strictly enforce mask rules, pause group classes, and actively analyze COVID symptoms in employees.
Genome sequencing in some of the samples given by those infected in the outbreak has confirmed 24 cases of variant B117 since January 28, the largest cluster of the variant found so far, while 18 more people with COVID have related to people with variant B117 and are currently awaiting sequencing results to determine if they also have variant.
The variant has been found in “athletes, coaches, students and family contacts,” says MDH, and “several schools, both public and private, have confirmed cases related to variant strain cases.”
The department says many of those who had variant B117 went to school or attended sports activities while they were infectious, prompting a call from MDH for athletes and young parents to “duplicate” measures to prevent spread of the virus.
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The closure of youth sports rose in January amid declining cases, but players are still forced to wear masks despite efforts to repeal this requirement by activist group Let Them Play MN.
“We are moving forward in the effort to end this pandemic, but we need all Minnesota people to keep watch until the job is done,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said.
“The variants that are circulating now present an added risk that we may see another rise in cases and we need everyone to do their part to prevent this from happening. That means masking up, distancing yourself socially, staying home when is ill and tested when appropriate “.