Kathy McKay, Clay County Public Health Director

Karen Newman

The mission of Clay County Public Health is to assure optimal health of all Clay County residents through effective community planning, services, and partnerships.  As the community works through the current health care crisis, Kathy McKay, Clay County Public Health Director, represents area front-line workers in the battle to contain Covid-19.  Since March, 2020, she and staff members from her department begin the weekly county commission meetings with a report about local pandemic conditions.  

“We are always trying to be strategic,” explains McKay when asked about how her department has reacted to Covid-19 planning.  She lauds the work of the Clay County Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Committee in working through the best ways to alleviate county health concerns as they disperse the county’s $7.8 million allotment from federal funds. She reports that CARES projects have a December 1 deadline and the committee is now concentrated on documentation in preparation for possible future audits.

With the goal of meeting health care needs specific to Clay County, McKay says, “CARES dollars have prepared the public health department for mass dispensation of a Covid-19 vaccine when it becomes available.”  Clay County is nearly finished constructing a building to house public health’s equipment and supplies needed to implement mass vaccinations.  The structure will house the public health department’s trailer which is used to set up mobile sites.  The structure will provide space for additional refrigerators and freezers to preserve the volume of vaccine required to treat Clay County citizens.  McKay explained that some forms of the vaccine may require ultra-cool temperatures.  Her department found a local source for pellet dry ice which will permit them to provide extreme low-temperature storage for vaccines requiring those conditions.

CARES Act dollars fund contact tracers with science backgrounds who stay in touch with county residents diagnosed with Covid-19 to monitor patient progress.

Community partnerships play a significant role in the county’s pandemic response.  Clay County Public Health Department staff meet regularly with higher education administrators and PK-12 superintendents as they develop safe learning plans based on local conditions.  The Minnesota Department of Public Health chose Moorhead for a Covid Saliva Testing Site.  McKay explained that through the cooperation of the ND and Minnesota governors, the site is open to North Dakota and Minnesota residents.  This service is similar to that provided by North Dakota at the beginning of the pandemic crisis when testing wasn’t readily available in Minnesota and more than 12,000 tests were provided to Minnesota residents.

Dispensing accurate information about safe gatherings during the holiday season is a priority. McKay says, “We know you are tired. We are tired too.”  She reminds the public that masking up, social distancing, employing proper handwashing and sanitizing techniques and avoiding large gatherings remain the only methods currently available to avoid spreading or contracting the Covid-19 virus.  Questions about the pandemic are welcomed by the public health office at 218-299-5220.

The public can view weekly commission meetings at https://claycountymn.gov/1544/Watch-Meetings-Live-on-YouTube.

Clay County Public Health Covid-19 information is available at https://claycountymn.gov/462/Public-Health .