Mower County government building to be closed immediately

The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed a case of COVID-19 in Mower County.

The MDH advised that a case was confirmed on Wednesday, March 18, according to a Thursday morning email from Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik.

Effective March 19, Mower County government buildings will be closed to the public. Sandvik did not say how long the closure would last.

“The identified person is believed to have come in contact with an infected person while traveling domestically,” Mower County Health and Human Services Division Manager Pam Kellogg said in an email to the Herald. “The person self-isolated themselves as soon as symptoms appeared. They did exactly what they were supposed to do.”

For patient privacy, Kellogg could not release any further information.

The recent number of cases jumped to 89 from 77 reported Wednesday by Minnesota Department of Health over 18 counties statewide.