The Clay County Commission held their first meeting in the courthouse’s newly revamped multi- purpose room.
Clay County Commission held its inaugural meeting in the new multi-purpose community room located on the third floor of the courthouse. Utilizing CARES Act dollars, the space was revamped to include wiring for modern technology, large screens and software to enable distance participation in meetings for county officials and for citizens and an expanded space for social distancing for commissioners, county officials and others attending meetings in person.
Expressing appreciation for the newly remodeled meeting space, Commissioner Jenny Mongeau said, “We wanted to ready this space for our citizens to take an active part in government.” Commissioner Jim Haney became the first commissioner to appear on the large screens installed in the meeting room for distance participation. Commission Chair Frank Gross lauded county staff for pitching in on meeting day to test the equipment and arrange the room’s furnishings to meet Covid-19 distancing requirements. The commission members noted that the new technology required them to mute and unmute microphones which will take some practice.
Quarantine Guidelines Reviewed
Clay County Public Health Director Kathy McKay and Disease Prevention and Control Nurse Cheryl Sapp noted that research data continues to indicate that community spread is the primary cause of Covid-19 cases in school staff and students. They reviewed quarantine guidance instituted by Governor Walz on December 7. (https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus)
· 14-day quarantine is the safest option. Citizens must quarantine for 14 days:
• Someone in your home has COVID-19.
• You live in a building with other people, where it’s hard to stay away from others and easy to spread the virus to multiple people, like a long-term care facility.
• You may consider being around others after 10 days if:
• You do not have any symptoms.
• You have not had a positive test for COVID-19.
• No one in your home has COVID-19, and you do not live in a building with other people, where it’s hard to stay away from others and easy to spread the virus to multiple people, like a long-term care facility.
• Even after 10 days you must still:
• Watch for symptoms through day 14. If you have any symptoms, stay home, separate yourself from others, and get tested right away.
• Continue to wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
• You may consider being around others after seven days only if:
• You get tested for COVID-19 at least five full days after you had close contact with someone with COVID-19, and the test is negative.
• You do not have any symptoms.
• You have not had a positive test for COVID-19.
• No one in your home has COVID-19, and you do not live in a building with other people, where it’s hard to stay away from others and easy to spread the virus to multiple people, like a long-term care facility.
• Even after seven days you must still:
• Watch for symptoms through day 14. If you have any symptoms, stay home, separate yourself from others, and get tested right away.
• Continue to wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
• You cannot end your quarantine before seven days for any reason.