'Substantial' Coronavirus Spread In Northfield: CDC

Northfield MN

03 August, 2021

2:50 PM

Description

NORTHFIELD, MN — Coronavirus cases are rising in the Northfield area, according to public health data. The Centers for Disease Control now categorizes Rice County as an area with a "substantial" level of community transmission. Counties that have "high" or "substantial" transmission should implement a mask mandate, according to the CDC. Health officials blame the ongoing case surges around the country on the delta variant, which is twice as infectious as the original strain of the coronavirus, according to public health officials. In Rice County, new cases are up by 490 percent over the last two weeks, the New York Times reports. On Saturday, Florida reported its highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day since the pandemic started, according to the CDC. However, the coronavirus vaccine is effective against the delta variant, particularly two weeks after both doses are received, public health officials said. Fifty-four percent of all Rice County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to state data. The surge in cases is leading to new mask and vaccine mandates from schools and companies in Minnesota. Read more: Latest MN Vaccine And Mask Mandates: See Who's Requiring Them