The positivity rate is now at 7.7% in the State of Minnesota as communicated to us at the Stearns County Public Health Zoom conference last week. In the latest comparable numbers to last year's metrics, we are now at 152.3. Another way to look at this as we did last year was to rank our positivity rate in the county. As reported last Thursday in a ranking of Stearns County school district positivity rates of 1 being the highest rate, Melrose remains this at number 4. Although the positivity rate did increase from last week’s number of 146.7, this was the smallest increase we have had this fall.
Our numbers continue to be low in our buildings. With the MEA break we hope that many of our students took the opportunity to spend time if needed to rest and get better. Although we may finally start to see the numbers plateauing in our area and across the state, the local, regional and statewide hospitals are near or at capacity. This is not just a school issue that we are dealing with but a community one as well. If you did not see the letter to the editor in last week’s paper from Dr. Morris, I was able to get permission to reprint it below.
Our numbers from last week:
If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact me or any of the building principals.
Greg Winter, Superintendent: gwinter@isd740.org
Chad Doetkott, High School Principal cdoetkott@isd740.org
Robert Anderson, Middle School Principal randerson@isd740.org
Terryl Pearson, Elementary School Principal tpearson@isd740.org
CentraCare’s message to the community – get vaccinated
To the editor
George Morris, MD, incident commander for CentraCare's COVID-19 Response, St. Cloud
“There are no beds.” It’s a phrase that has become far too commonplace inside emergency departments and hospitals as physicians seek to find higher levels of care for their patients. What does it really mean? We are in a dire situation.
As COVID-19 continues to rip through our communities – especially where vaccination rates remain low – our ability to care for patients in the way they are accustomed, is no longer the norm. The number of COVID-positive patients hospitalized across the state is quickly nearing peak numbers we experienced in the fall of 2020. Roughly 85% of those hospitalized are unvaccinated. Many are under age 50.
A still-raging virus, coupled with frontline staff who have left healthcare because they are just plain burned out, is creating a perfect storm. Hospitals are full. Dedicated staff are exhausted. Each day, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a bed for the COVID-positive patient who needs high-flow oxygen or the heart patient who needs a stent or the car accident victim. Patients wait. Their loved ones wait. There are no beds.
This is our reality. We are 20 months into a pandemic and 10 months into the availability of a lifesaving, medical miracle. It’s time to end this pandemic with the one thing that makes a difference: the COVID-19 vaccine.
Healthcare resources are running low. Tensions are running high.
Our commitment to our communities is what keeps us going. But we need a commitment from you: Get the vaccine.
We are here for you. We will fight for your life. But we will likely be forced to make difficult choices if things don’t change.
Please help us. Our plea is for everyone – ages 12 to 112 – to get vaccinated.
And it is our prayer that you or your loved one never has to hear the phrase, “There are no beds.”
Reprinted with permission from the Star Post