By Teri Knight, News Director
The City of Northfield met virtually for a work session. First on the agenda was an update on Covid19 response from Chief Nelson and also from Northfield Hospital officials. There have been a myriad of preparations at NH&C. CEO Steve Underdahl, “not to oversimplify it but in many ways transformed our small medical system into an Emergency Response Center”. They closed down the “normal” operations to prepare for patients. That includes segregated areas for Covid and non-Covid patients. Underdahl updated Council on the financial strain. Chief Medical Officer, Jeff Meland explained that they’re in pretty good shape as they prepare for what may or may not happen. He added that they’ve talked with other medical facilities and believe they’re ahead of the curve in terms of preparation. NH&C has few ventilators. Meland said, “we have surgical ventilators but we don’t have them that we admit patients to the hospital and have them on ventilators. A lot of the data is coming out now that shows that if you’re elderly or certain ages with certain co-morbidities or health problems, getting ventilated is a really bad move. And people don’t do very well with that. So it’s really .. the science is evolving”. He added, “and when I read ER doctor blogs they talk about if
I’m sick with this, don’t don’t ventilate me, sedate me and get me through this thing. So it really is interesting how it’s changing and all the frontline providers are changing their opinion about this as well”. The medical staff is working 8 days on and 10 days off to keep the team healthy and allow for time, if they don’t feel good. Underdahl reiterated that there isn’t a capacity to test people. They don’t have the chemical reagents to do it. The full video of the meeting will be on the City’s website. NH&C IS still taking patients for emergency surgeries, injuries and illness. Please call first. This is the Supplement which includes the presentation by Underdahl, Meland and Tammy Hayes. City Council Supplemental Agenda Background Memo for April 14, 2020 No. 2 o
Dundas doors not open but you can knock
City business continues in Dundas. Administrator Jenelle Teppen is still going into City Hall maintaining regular hours. While the building is closed, you can still “knock on the door”. Council held a virtual meeting. Two items they discussed around the pandemic included extending the closed City Hall through May 4th as per the Governors order and, “employees who get sick from the virus are afforded two weeks of paid sick leave”. Teppen’s full interview is HERE.
Rice County calls on citizens to make masks/gowns
With a very high need and an even greater shortage, Rice County is asking for donations from residents and businesses of homemade face masks and other Personal Protection Equipment. Donations will be distributed to all First Responder agencies throughout Rice County including Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, and Ambulance services. Items will also be distributed to Healthcare Facilities, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, Group Homes, Childcare providers, School workers providing Childcare and Food services, Food Shelf employees, and other Essential employees and Entities that are providing direct services to members of the public. Go to our Community News page HERE and you’ll find a lot more information as well as patterns for gowns and masks. Rice County Public Health reports a fifth lab confirmed case of COVID-19 in Rice County. Limited information indicates that the person is in their 40’s, not hospitalized, and had contact with a lab confirmed case.
Peacetime Emergency extension/Stay At Home confusion
There’s been some confusion regarding Governor Walz’s extension of the Peacetime Emergency and the Stay At Home orders. The two are separate. The peacetime emergency order, which runs through May 13th, provides the Governor with certain tools to respond to the threat of COVID-19, such as providing economic relief to those impacted by the crisis and activating the National Guard to assist in relief efforts. The Stay Home Order, which lasts until May 4, directs Minnesotans to limit movements outside of their homes beyond essential needs.
