The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) urges all Minnesotans to remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19, practice good health and take a pandemic pause – stay home if you can, gather outdoors rather than indoors and avoid any unnecessary trips.
The more than 12,000 physicians and physicians-in-training of the MMA are encouraged to see the increasing pace of vaccinations in Minnesota but are equally concerned about the virus’s spread. Virus variants are more contagious and are making younger Minnesotans sick. Hospital admissions are up and ICU beds are nearing capacity.
“We need to allow Minnesota’s healthcare workers to get out in front of this and lessen the severity of a fourth surge,” said MMA President Marilyn Peitso, MD. “We want this pandemic to end as much as the rest of Minnesota. Together, we need to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
The number of COVID-19 cases in Douglas County continue to rise, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Health. Between Easter Sunday on April 4 and Thursday, April 15, the county added 169 cases, an average of more than 15 new cases per day. That's nearly double the new cases, 85, that were added between Sunday, March 7 and Thursday, March 18, for an average of eight new cases a day.
As of April 15, 14,601 people in Douglas County, 48% of the county's population, have received at least one vaccination dose.
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The MMA urges Minnesotans to get vaccinated and continue to practice good health by wearing a mask, staying socially distant, washing hands, staying home when sick and seeing a physician when ill.
Those who have received COVID-19 vaccinations are also asked to do their part. Per CDC recommendations, vaccinations can be protective, especially when getting together in small groups with other vaccinated people, but being vaccinated should not be considered a green light for high-risk activities like attending large events indoors where others are not wearing masks or staying socially distant, the MMA said.
“Vaccination not only protects you, but it also protects your family and the entire community,” says Peitso. “Vaccination is the pathway back to some form of normal life.”
About the Minnesota Medical Association
The Minnesota Medical Association is a non-profit professional association representing physicians, residents and medical students. With more than 10,000 members, the MMA is dedicated to being the leading voice of medicine to make Minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.
