Cook County reports uptick in COVID-19 case count as delta variant spreads

There’s been an uptick in new COVID-19 cases in Cook County among local residents. The total case count now stands at 182, with four new cases of COVID reported in the past week, according to Cook County Public Health Supervisor Grace Grinager.

Statewide, the number of Minnesota youth who are testing positive for COVID-19 is increasing just ahead of the upcoming school year. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcom said cases among children nine and younger have nearly doubled in the past six to eight weeks.

The highly contagious delta variant, responsible for nearly all new infections of COVID-19 in Minnesota, is likely the reason for the uptick in cases in Cook County, according to Grinager.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Grinager for an update on the COVID-19 situation in Cook County. The audio to their Aug. 16 interview is shared below.