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COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the community

By
Lori Sorenson

Public health officials are warning community members that COVID-19 case numbers are on the rise in Rock County, and that masking and vaccination are recommended.
The Luverne School District’s Incident Command Team hasn’t met since the School Board opted out of the mask mandate in response to parent and community pressure.
However, Jason Kloss of Southwest Health and Human Services is urging people to take precautions.
“We are seeing increasing spread in our communities,” he said.
“This will certainly contribute to an increase in cases for schools and an increase in individuals that are close contacts and recommended to quarantine.”
He said the 14-day case rate in Rock County is about 70, which means the local test positivity rate is high as well. 
Sanford Luverne this week will offer two vaccine clinics offering the Pfizer booster shot and third dose for those who meet criteria to receive it.
The clinics will be Thursday, Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Friday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. 
Appointments can be scheduled through Sanford Luverne Clinic, 507-283-4476.
Lewis Family Drug in Luverne is offering walk-in Pfizer shots from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Covid testing is available at Sanford Luverne.
Patients are told to call ahead, and if symptomatic a nurse will call for more information and instructions on whether to be seen.
If asymptomatic, people are instructed to wait five to seven days after exposure prior to getting a test.
All testing is done in the ambulance garage at the Sanford Luverne campus at 10 a.m. with 2 p.m. times as necessary.
This is not a rapid test, so it takes 24 to 48 hours for results.

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