Rochester lowers COVID risk dial

Randy Petersen, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.
·2 min read

Jun. 12—Rochester's COVID risk dial has dropped to "low" Friday.

The change came two weeks after the dial was moved from "high" to "moderate," and as Olmsted County Public Health has reported a drop to an average of two confirmed COVID cases during the week.

Friday morning's daily report indicated no new confirmed cases have been seen in the past 24 hours, following a single case in the Thursday report.

Since a "low" rating requires the seven-day average to drop below one, the county's rating remains "moderate," but other indicators have dropped to the low levels

Olmsted County reports a 2.7 percent positive test rate for the week ending June 6, the most recent available data. That puts the number in the "low" range, which is anything under 3 percent.

Daily COVID-related hospitalizations have also dropped to 2.7 throughout the county.

Ken Jones, Rochester's director of emergency management, has noted the city's risk dial, which is adjusted every Friday, is set based on the local public health data, as well as trends seen throughout the state and nation that could affect the local spread of the virus.

More than 85 percent of Rochester residents have been vaccinated, according to Olmsted County Public Health officials, and countywide rates continue to outpace the state.

Statewide, 63.5 percent of the people 12 and older had received at least one dose of vaccine as of Wednesday, with 57.8 percent having completed the required doses.

In Olmsted County, 77.1 percent of the eligible residents have received a single dose, with 71.6 percent having completed the required vaccinations.

The county's 65 and older population maintains the highest vaccination rate, with 95 percent receiving at least one dose and 93 percent having completed the process.

Half of the newest age group to be eligible for vaccination — 12- to 15-year-olds — have started the vaccination process in Olmsted County with 23 percent having completed the series of two doses, according to Minnesota Department of Health data.

It compares to 32 percent of the state's 12- to 15-year-olds starting the process, and 17 percent having completed the series.

The Rochester COVID mitigation and response website notes that the virus remains a health threat for unvaccinated residents and visitors in the city.

"If you are fully vaccinated, the risk to health is low at this time," the site states, adding that recommendations will be updated.

Olmsted County Breakdown

(Updated Monday-Friday by Olmsted County Public Health)

Activity Dials

Weekly Case Counts

Case Demographics

Cluster Investigations

State Breakdown

Minnesota Positive Cases

Minnesota Deaths

Minnesota Hospitalizations