County Covid cases still rising

Positive COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Carlton County, with the Minnesota Department of Health reporting a cumulative (since March) total of 196 cases here as of Wednesday, Sept. 2, up 17 from the previous Wednesday. Over the past month, since Aug. 3, the number of cases here has risen by 71 cases.

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or who has been exposed to someone they think may have the disease is encouraged to seek testing.

Symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, congestion, or loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after you are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.

Not everyone with COVID-19 has all of these symptoms, and some people may not have any symptoms. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns about symptoms.

Local testing sites include CMH Raiter Clinic, Min No Aya Win Human Services Center, MedExpress Urgent Care in Cloquet, Gateway Family Clinic in Moose Lake and Cromwell Medical Clinic.

Two Carlton County senior living facilities — Evergreen Knoll and New Perspective in Cloquet — remain on the state list of congregate care facilities that have reported a COVID-19 exposure at the facility.

Exposure is defined as a person diagnosed with COVID-19 who either visited, worked, or lived at a congregate care facility while they were contagious. It doesn’t necessarily mean that any residents were infected with the coronavirus.