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Rock County Commissioners unanimously declared a state of emergency Tuesday due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The declaration allows officials to take protective measures to reduce the impact of coronavirus along with recovery efforts beyond the usual resources of the county.
Tuesday’s County Board action follows several meetings of local leaders representing schools (Luverne, H-BC, Edgerton), city councils, hospitals, ambulance staff, law enforcement, nursing homes, churches and others.
“Bottom line is to stay calm and not panic,” said Rock County Emergency Management Director Kyle Oldre. “We know people are going to get sick, and we’re going to do our very best to handle it.”
He will be the point person for coordination among local government units, and his office in the courthouse will be the emergency operations center for coronavirus-related communications.
The county’s website (www.co.rock.mn.us) links to the Minnesota Department of Health for coronavirus information, updates and how to slow its spread.
‘Uncharted times’
Oldre and several other school and city leaders also met Sunday after the Minnesota Department of Education announced schools would close statewide this week. (See the related story about schools’ response to coronavirus.)
“These are uncharted times,” Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian said Sunday night. “There will be cases here, but after the first isolation and quarantine, we will weather this.”
He said he hopes students and displaced workers will heed CDC warnings to maintain social distance. “Just because school is out, now’s not the time to pack up the car with a bunch of people and go to Sioux Falls for a movie,” Baustian said.
To encourage people to stay home, the city of Luverne closed the pool and fitness center and the Blue Mound Ice Arena. The Palace Theatre had already closed before the weekend.
Those closures and many others became mandatory Monday night when the governor announced all bars and restaurants in Minnesota must close through March 27 for on-premises consumption.
“As the cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota continue to climb, we must take decisive action to curb the spread of this pandemic and protect the health and safety of Minnesotans,” said Gov. Tim Walz.
“This is a challenging time for business owners, employees, children and families alike. We must come together as One Minnesota to care for our neighbors and slow the spread of COVID-19.”
(See the related story about coronavirus effect on businesses)
Mobile meals
By this point, many local restaurants were already gearing up for mobile service.
“Sterling’s will continue to do curbside and delivery this week,” Brian Sterling said Monday night. “We’re discussing further options tomorrow.”
Skylar Hoiland, whose Bluestem catering service is equipped for mobile food service, said Monday night that he and his staff are working on a plan to release to customers.
The governor’s list of temporary closures also includes fitness centers, spas, arcades, bowling alleys, bingo halls, skating rinks, country clubs, breweries and more.
Area nursing homes — including the Veterans Home — have closed their doors to outside visitors, and the Generations building served its final dining room meal Monday to local seniors.
Mealsite coordinator Lynette Hoiland said the kitchen will continue to prepare meals; they just can’t be eaten on site.
This means they’ll be packaged “to go” much like the Meals on Wheels that get delivered to shut-ins. “You can still get the regularly scheduled menu items available for curbside pick up by calling in your reservation the night before picking up,” Hoiland said.
“The Home Delivered Meals will continue as scheduled with no interruption. Frozen meals and shelf-stable meals are also available by request.”
She said meal delivery volunteers have been instructed to knock and leave the meal at the door, and deliveries to Blue Mound Tower and Centennial Apartments are left on the main floor.
“There’s supposed to be no contact,” Hoiland said. “And that’s such a shame, because that’s the beauty of home-delivered meals — the socializing.”
To reserve a curbside meal or delivery, call 507-283-9846 and leave a message.