Local health officials prep for busy holiday weekend as COVID cases climb statewide

Significant numbers of tourists continue to visit the North Shore during the young summer of 2020. Crowds of people are visible on the streets of Grand Marais on most afternoons, some wearing face coverings (masks), while others choose not to. Likewise, some retail and other locally-owned businesses require patrons wear a mask inside their stores, while others do not.

After talking with representatives from some of Cook County’s largest operators of short-term rentals and resorts in recent days, without question it is going to be a busy scene in Grand Marais and likely throughout the county during the Fourth of July weekend.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to climb in Minnesota, with the state being listed today as “trending poorly” on a database that tracks confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Cook County Public Health Supervisor Grace Grinager about what county and local healthcare officials are preparing for ahead of the holiday weekend.