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State health officials reported on Friday night that there was a “rapidly growing epidemic” of variant B117 UK COVID-19 in the southwest of the Twin Cities.
The Minnesota Department of Health says there was a 62% increase in COVID cases in Carver County between February 24 and March 4, and the UK version – which scientists have determined is more transmissible than the original SARS strain – CoV-2 – plays a role in this ascent.
Moreover, MDH says it has pursued “at least” 68 cases of COVID-19 that have been linked to participants in “school and club-sponsored sports activities, including hockey, wrestling, basketball, downhill skiing and other sports.”
Subsequently, there was an increase in cases in gyms and fitness centers in Carver County, which contact tracers linked to sports-related cases.
MDH says it recommends a “county-level break” in youth sports for two weeks starting Monday, as a result, as well as “active screening, weekly testing of athletes and coaches, no meetings before / after games.”
The department also recommends that schools in Carver County consider discontinuing extracurricular activities where “complete distance cannot be maintained,” and that local gyms strictly enforce mask rules, interrupt group classes and actively monitor employees for COVID symptoms.
Genome sequencing on some of the samples given by those infected in the outbreak confirmed 24 cases of variant B117 since January 28, the largest group in the variant found so far, while another 18 people with COVID were related to people with the variant B117 and is currently awaiting the results of the sequencing to determine if they have the option.
The variant was found in “athletes, coaches, students and household contacts”, says MDH, and “several schools, both public and private, have confirmed cases related to variants of strain cases”.
The department says many of those with variant B117 went to school or participated in sports while infected, prompting a call from MDH for young athletes and parents to “double” the measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
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The closure of youth sports was lifted in January amid declining cases, but players are still required to wear masks, despite efforts to repeal the requirement by activist group Let Them Play MN.
“We are making progress in ending this pandemic, but we need all Minnesota people to stand guard until work is completed,” said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm.
“The variants that are circulating now present an additional risk to see a new increase in cases and we need everyone to do their part to prevent this. That means masking, social distancing, staying home when you are sick and testing when is the case. “