Minnesota reports 1st COVID-19 case in Ramsey County resident

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed the state’s first presumptive case of novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The case is an older adult resident of Ramsey County who recently traveled on a cruise ship with a known COVID-19 case. The patient began to develop symptoms on Feb. 25 and sought health care yesterday.

The patient tested positive at The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Public Health Laboratory and officials await confirmatory testing from CDC.

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The patient is currently in quarantine at home and is recovering. MDH is working with Ramsey County Public Health and health care partners to identify and contact all those who may have come in contact with the infected person. These people will be asked to isolate themselves for 14 days from their exposure and will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms.

“The State of Minnesota has been working around the clock to prepare for this and I am confident that our Department of Health is up to the challenge,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said. “Our Administration is collaborating across state agencies and remains in close contact with both federal and local partners as we monitor developments with this outbreak. Our state is fortunate to have a strong public health sector and world-class health care providers who are working hard to keep Minnesotans safe and healthy.”



