Cook County reports fifth case of COVID, first in a local teen, as new cases soar statewide

As the virus continues to spread across all corners of the state, the Minnesota Department of Health reports it was among the most troubling weekends for new cases since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Minnesota health officials reported more than 800 new cases of COVID-19 today, down from Saturday's record high of 924, but still a troubling indicator of the spread of the virus statewide.

The state also reported nine more deaths from COVID-19 today, which means there are now 1,657 deaths from the virus in Minnesota since the start of the pandemic.

In local news, Cook County reported new cases Thursday, Friday and again today. There are now a total of five cases in Cook County. Lake County also reported new cases over the weekend and has a total of 21 since the start of the pandemic. St. Louis County now has more than 550 cases of the new coronavirus.

In Cook County, all five confirmed cases of COVID-19 involve people who are in their teens, 20s or 30s.

The most recent case, which will not show up on the Cook County COVID-19 hub website for several days, involves a local resident who is in her teens, according to Grace Grinager, the public health supervisor for Cook County.

WTIP's Joe Friedrichs spoke with Grinager August 10 for the most recent COVID-19 news and information from Cook County.