MDH: Schools Reporting Five or More COVID Cases More than Doubles

(KNSI) – According to the Minnesota Department of Health, more than twice as many schools are reporting five or more COVID-19 cases in two weeks. The list has 231 schools reporting at least five cases statewide. Last week the total stood at 95 schools.

The list includes St. Cloud Tech High School, Sartell High School, Sartell Middle School, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School and Riverview Intermediate School in Sartell. They join Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior High, Oak Hill Community Elementary School in St. Cloud and Prince of Peace Luthern School in St. Cloud on the list released Thursday.

Other central Minnesota schools added to the list include Rocori Senior High in Cold Spring, Avon Elementary, Sauk Centre Secondary, Eden Valley Elementary, Little Falls Senior High, Becker Middle School, Spectrum High School in Elk River, Zimmerman High School, Annandale Elementary School, Buffalo Senior High, Delano High School, Prairie View Middle School in Otsego and St. Michale-Albertville Senior High. Zimmerman Middle School, Monticello Senior High and Tatanka Elementary in Buffalo were on the list last week.

The weekly report lists schools with five or more reported cases within 14 days. Schools will be removed from the list after they have no lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases for 28 days.

According to the MDH, schools on the list do not necessarily have ongoing transmission; however, five or more people were inside and tested positive for COVID 19.

Public, private, and tribal school districts must report any positive COVID-19 tests to the health department in their staff and students.

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