Rapidly spreading Corona virus is a respiratory virus first reported in China in December 2019. The illness has since spread around the globe, and the World Health Organization has declared the new corona virus outbreak a pandemic. Disease caused by this virus is called COVID-19. People who are infected with this disease are known to be suffering from fever, cough, and breathing problems. The first case of Corona virus in Minnesota was reported on March 6, 2020. Lately, 1,154 positive cases and 39 deaths are reported by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Hennepin has reported 344 cases. That is the most number of corona virus cases from an single county in Minnesota.

On realizing the situation, Governor Walz issued an executive order directing Minnesotans to stay at home and to limit going out of their home other than for essential needs on March 25, 2020, until April 10, 2020. “We are asking you — because it is going to take cooperation and collaboration — stay home,” he said. This decision is taken to slow down the transmission rate of Corona virus in Minnesota and to prepare the state for the pandemic. On April 8, 2020, the stay at home order is further extended up to May 3, 2020.

People who work in critical sectors during this time are exempt from the stay at home order. Businesses that can operate from home should do the same, even if they are eligible for Critical Sector worker exemption. To check if your business is included in the exemption, check Critical Sector Exemption.

All public, as well as charter schools in Minnesota, are following the stay at home order until May 4, 2020. They have to implement Distance Learning for school students to support them. For further updates related to the education sector, visit the Minnesota Department of Education.

How to prevent Corona Virus

As, currently, there is no vaccine to cure COVID-19, Centers For Disease Control & Prevention(CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health(MDH) has advised complying with the following instructions –

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick. Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash. If you are sick, You should wear a facemask when you are around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. In any case, if you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. If you are NOT sick, you do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is ill (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply, and they should be saved for caregivers. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

But if you are already hit by the pandemic, instead of gathering information online, it would be better to undergo quarantine and contact your doctor. If necessary, a doctor may recommend that you see a specialist who is likely to have the most recent information about this pandemic disease. Online information about the novel corona virus might be helpful, but as the number of people and countries affected by the COVID-19 has increased, so have conspiracy theories and unfounded claims about it. Social media websites, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok, have seen several false and misleading posts claiming to provide aid for the virus. When considering a new infectious disease about which so much is still unknown, it’s essential to seek out reliable information and act on it. Be skeptical of implausible conspiracy theories or claims of “fake news” that dismiss recommendations from public health officials.

Addressing the concerns surrounding the new corona virus requires accessible, reliable, and frequently updated information; the best we can do is to look to the experts whom we can rely on. For any health-related questions, you can contact 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903.