Otter Tail County reports first COVID-19 death; 62 considered recovered

The first COVID-19 death in Otter Tail County has been reported by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) on Friday, June 5.

The patient was in the 60- to 69-year-old age range, Shannon Terry, Otter Tail County's Public Information Officer, said. Other information about the patient is not being released at this time to protect the patient's privacy, Terry said.

In all Friday, Otter Tail County has 73 reported cases of COVID-19 with 62 of those cases no longer requiring isolation, according to the Otter Tail County COVID-19 Health Information website . Thus far Otter Tail County has an estimated 85% recovery rate from COVID-19.

According to Otter Tail County Public Health Director Jody Lien, cases that “no longer require isolation” is a measure to show how many cases are considered no longer contagious.

The number of cases no longer requiring isolation jumped by dozens this week.

"The rise in that number is due to some clean-up done on our end as MDH changed how that data was reported. In addition, the number is an estimate based on case data," Lien said.

Broad community takeaways on COVID-19 case data for Otter Tail County according to Otter Tail County Public Health:

1. Otter Tail County continues to have cases of COVID-19; some of whom are at a point in the disease progression that they no longer are contagious and are working toward recovery, or are recovered.
2. COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities.
3. For our residents and visitors, it continues to be important to follow public health prevention measures to slow the spread and limit exposures to COVID-19.

• Otter Tail County Public Health is available to answer general questions regarding COVID-19 at 218-998-8320 or 888-349-2581, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
  
• Otter Tail County COVID-19 Health Information: ottertailcountymn.us/content-page/covid-19-health-information/ .

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