Current Situation/Press Releases

Current Situation

Not all cases of COVID-19 are tested. The Minnesota Department of Health posts, by county, current lab confirmed cases on its website. There are lab confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Rice County.
The first case in the United States was announced on January 21, 2020. A map of the current number of cases by state is maintained by the CDC.
Health officials confirmed the first case in Minnesota on March 6, 2020.
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Rice County was on March 18^th, 2020.
Local public health does not have authority to share private health data, which includes the address of those who test positive with COVID-19, or any other identifying information. Such sharing is a violation of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat.13.09 (a) and (b).
COVID VACCINATION: Currently Rice County Public Health is vaccinating those in MDH's Phase 1 prioritization tier (healthcare workers, staff and residents in congregate living settings, emergency medical, etc.) in addition to educators and childcare providers. Individuals are invited to clinics based on employment. Vaccine supplies remain very limited and Rice County Public Health vaccination clinics are not yet open for public registration, however we anticipate that will transition by March. We will then offer registration online at this website. Limited vaccines are also available through healthcare providers and pharmacy providers for MDH identified priority groups, which includes those 65 years and older.
Minnesota Vaccine Connector: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/connector/index.jsp
Who is eligible for vaccine currently in Minnesota: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/whos-getting-vaccinated/index.jsp

Rice County COVID-19 Vaccination Data

Rice County COVID-19 Case Data

TOTAL CUMULATIVE BOTH CONFIRMED AND PROBABLE: 6,642
- Newly reported from Tuesday: 0
- Cases no longer needing isolation (Weekly MDH report on Thursdays): 6,438
DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN OF BOTH CONFIRMED AND PROBABLE CASES
- Female: 2,854 Male: 3,788
- Age range: 1 month - 104 years (Average age 40 years old)
- Ever hospitalized: 255
  - Age range: 3 months - 98 years (Average age 63 years old)
  - Need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU): 46 of 255 hospitalized
    - Age range: 3 months - 95 years (Average age 64 years old)
- Living Setting Type: College/University/Dormitory 87; Group Home 29; Jail 1; Long Term Care (LTC) 218; Other/Boarding School 29; Prison 1,115; Private Residence 3,271; Blank 1,892
- Case Zip Code Address: Dundas 136; Faribault 4,216; Kenyon 10; Kilkenny 34; Lonsdale 476; Medford 8; Montgomery 30; Morristown 147; Nerstrand 63; New Prague 15; Northfield 1,351; Veseli 11; Warsaw 37; Waterville: 9; Webster 97; Other 2
COVID-19 DEATHS
- Confirmed (PCR Test) 73; Probable (Antigen Test) 17; Total Deaths 90
- Age range: 24 years - 104 years (Average age both Confirmed and Probable Deaths: 80 years old)
- Living Setting Type for all COVID Deaths: LTC 59; Prison 8; Private Residence 23

*Last Updated: February 24, 2021

*Rice County Case Information updated Monday through Friday, excluding holidays on this web page. Weekend updates can be found on the MDH site at: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/situation.html. Discrepancies between the two sites are attributable to reporting cut off times.

Rice County 14 - Day Case Rate per 10,000 People

The Office of the Governor along with experts from the Minnesota Departments of Education and Health have developed a Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year. At this point in the pandemic, each school is to consider various pieces of data, including the county’s 14-day case rate to determine which learning plan is best for their population. The governor's office publishes a weekly report with the 14-day case rate by county for use by school districts and it can be accessed here. Rice County Public Health is calculating the 14-day case rate using more recent data. This rate, because it is more recent, is preliminary and may change as case and contact investigations continue.

Rice County’s 14-day case rate per 10,000 people for the time period

January 31, 2021- February 13, 2021

27.22