COVID-19 Resources

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Click here to view Kanabec County COVID-19 data. 

CASPER: COVID-19 Public Health Survey
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is conducting a modified Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Minnesota communities. A CASPER survey is a quick way for public health workers and emergency managers to understand the needs of a community.

The information collected from a community helps:

  • Make informed decisions.
  • Initiate public health action and identify information gaps.
  • Facilitate disaster planning, response, and recovery activities.
  • Allocate resources, and assess new or changing needs.

What are the goals of the COVID-19 Public Health Survey?
Through this modified CASPER (Public Health Survey), MDH hopes to:
• Understand how COVID-19 has spread in Minnesota communities.
• Understand what factors influence COVID-19 infection in areas with community transmission.
• Explore how COVID-19 transmission and infection rates differ among regions in Minnesota.
• Identify what percent of the population is infected with COVID-19, but do not have symptoms.
• Improve health messaging and prevent COVID-19 spread.

Why should you participate?
• Free COVID-19 Tests: You and
your household members can have free COVID-19 tests to know if you have had or currently have COVID-19.
• Learn more about COVID-19: Your participation helps us better understand how COVID-19 is spreading across Minnesota. Thank you for participating! We could not do it without you. You are contributing to stopping the pandemic.
• Let us know your concerns: You can speak to a public health worker about your COVID-19 concerns and its impact on your household.

Why a COVID-19 Public Health Survey is important:
Information is key for decision-making. Information sent to the right people, at the right place, at the right time, is optimal for any successful response. A modified CASPER addresses this by providing valid information rapidly about the health needs of a community to decision-makers.

The survey results will provide information for:
• Study participants on their COVID-19 infection status
• MDH and local public health leadership to understand the spread and inform prevention efforts
• Governor's office to provide context for decision-making
• MDH-University of Minnesota modeling team to inform COVID-19 modeling efforts
• Media to educate the public

Privacy
All health information collected during the survey will remain confidential. Positive test results will be shared with the health department case investigation team to follow up.

MDH Contact Information
Please contact health.serosurvey.c19@state.mn.us if you have any questions.

Click here to view StaySafeMN website.

Contact Tracing and Investigation Information 

An individual identified as having a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 will receive a phone call from one of our public health staff. During the interview, the public health staff will ask where they spend their time and who they have had close contact with. Those identified will be contacted by phone for symptomatic monitoring, and suggested MDH guidelines for self-quarantine and isolation.

As these case and contact investigations begin it is especially important that those contacted answer/accept phone calls or return messages left by the public health staff. As our public health staff increases their capacity to conduct all case investigations in Kanabec County, please note that MDH will also conduct some of the investigations.

Activities, resources and links for individuals, families and community members. 
Family Activities & Resources

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Remember! The best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are to practice:

  • Healthy hygiene
    • Wash your hands often and thoroughly
    • Cover your cough and sneezes
    • Toss the tissue and wash your hands again
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • By staying home when you’re sick
  • Wear a cloth face mask when out in public
  • Social distancing:
    • Keeping at least 6 feet from others.
    • Be aware of your surroundings
  • Being a good community member:
    • Identify family, friends, and neighbors who may be feeling alone and contact them by phone to provide some companionship or ask if they have their needs met to safely stay in their home.

For more information about COVID-19:

Coronavirus Prevention Resources
Basic information on how to prevent the spread of COVID- 19

 
Other resource links: