The Northfield City Council will meet tomorrow night in the Council Chambers at City Hall, and among the several items on the
agenda, the council will consider an emergency mask mandate for all public indoor spaces.
Last week, City Councilor Jami Reister sent a letter to Mayor Rhonda Pownell, City Administrator Ben Martig and Police Chief Mark Elliott asking for the mandate. In her letter, Reister, a trained physician, expressed strong concern about the dangers of the Omicron variant, and the current surge of the virus.
The current rate of positive Covid test results statewide is 19.1%, she said. That is a two-year pandemic high, and the Minnesota Department of Health expects that number to grow. Omicron is much more contagious than previous forms of the virus, she said, with the number of positive cases doubling every day-and-a-half to two days, statewide. What’s more, she said, the public has been lulled into a false sense of security due to the fact that the variant is perceived to be a weaker form of Covid-19.
“Omicron can still cause very significant and even fatal disease for any individual of any age. The variant especially poses a risk to the unvaccinated or under-vaccinated population. [Northfield Hospital] Staff are overwhelmed and exhausted, the hospital and emergency department are overflowing with… patients who cannot get a bed in the already full emergency department, and at times, patients cannot be transferred to tertiary care centers for advanced level care because they have no beds or insufficient staff. We are in a crisis-level situation.”
Time will be made available for public comment at the meeting tomorrow night before the council discusses the subject. The public is also encouraged to email their councilor directly from the city website.
The meeting is set for 6:00 tomorrow night.
Pursell announces candidacy for Minnesota House of Representatives
The first candidate to pursue the seat being vacated by Representative Todd Lippert has announced her intentions.
Kristi Pursell, best known as the Executive Director of Clean River Partners, announced her candidacy on Friday to represent District 20B in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Pursell lives in Northfield with her family. A graduate of St. Olaf College who grew up in Rochester, she said she’s running because she cares deeply about her home and believes state government should be rooted in compassion, resilience, and justice.
“I’ve spent the past several years of my career building innovative partnerships dedicated to a healthier, more equitable and more prosperous Minnesota,” she said in a statement released by her campaign. “Now I want to take those ideals and values to St. Paul and put them to work for all Minnesotans in the House of Representatives.”
Pursell has worked for Clean River Partners – which was formerly known as the Cannon River Watershed Partnership – for seven years, four and a half of those as Executive Director.
Representative Todd Lippert announced two weeks ago that he would not be seeking reelection this fall, in order to pursue opportunities helping the Democratic party better connect with people who live in rural areas. Pursell said she feels well positioned with rural communities through her work with farmers in the area, and her roots in Southern Minnesota.
Pursell is seeking the DFL endorsement and plans to participate in the precinct caucuses on February 1st. No word yet on any other candidates from either party.
New visitor restrictions at Northfield Hospital + Clinics
The Northfield Hospital is once again facing unprecedented demand for service as cases of Covid-19 increase
dramatically. Because of that, the hospital announced newly tightened restrictions for the hospital, Birth Center and clinics on Friday.
Hospital adult patients are not allowed any visitors at this time, however compassionate exemption may be made for a patient at end of life. Children and patients with disability or dementia staying in the hospital may have one parent/guardian or designated support person who may stay overnight. It must be the same visitor for the length of the hospital stay. These rules apply for those receiving outpatient surgery, emergency patients, and patients visiting clinics as well.
Birth Center patients may have one consistent adult support person – the same person for the entire stay. That person will stay the entire time in the patient room. Patients may choose their partner or a doula, but not both.
No visitors under the age of 18 are allowed. All visitors will be screened, including temperature. Those who show any symptom of Covid-19 will not be allowed to enter. All visitors must wear a medical mask and keep a six-foot distance from others. If visitors do not have a mask, one will be provided. Any visitor who refuses to wear a mask will not be allowed into the facility.
No visitors will be allowed for patients who have or may have Covid, but compassionate exemption may be made for a patient at end of life.
Additionally, the hospital is not offering Covid tests in the emergency room. Please do not visit the ER to get tested unless severe symptoms are being experienced.
The state, Rice County, the Northfield School District and local pharmacies are offering several options for testing.
NH+C is reminding the public that getting vaccinated – and boosted – is the best protection against contracting or spreading Covid. Vaccination options can be found at the state Vaccine Connector website. We have pinned a link to the Vaccine Connector to the top of the KYMN Facebook Page.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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