COVID-19 rates continue to increase in county, EP and schools

COVID-19 rates in Eden Prairie, Hennepin County and Eden Prairie Schools continue to increase, based on recent county and school data.

Eden Prairie’s case rate per 10,000 residents was at 72.8 as of the two-week period ending Nov. 22. That is up from 67.6 the previous two-week period and from 56.2 at the beginning of October.

Hennepin County and cities surrounding Eden Prairie have seen similar increases (see chart below), according to the Hennepin County COVID-19 Dashboard.

Eden Prairie Schools reported a total of 120 positive cases in the two-week period ending Dec. 3. That included 59 in Pre-K through 5^th grade, 44 in grades 6 through 12, and 17 staff. The previous two-week period data totaled 98. The largest increases came in the youngest age group.

Six Eden Prairie schools are on the Dec. 2 Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) COVID Weekly Report as having five or more positive cases in students and staff in the building while infectious during a two-week period.

The MDH report lists Central Middle School (CMS), Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion (EHSI), Eden Prairie High School (EPHS), Forest Hills Elementary, Oak Point Elementary and Prairie View Elementary as meeting that criteria. Reported data was scattered with CMS reporting between five and nine cases as of Nov. 13, and EPHS and Forest Hills reporting between five and nine cases as of Oct. 19.

Oak Point (10-19 cases) and Prairie View (5-9 cases) haven’t reported new data since Oct. 16, according to MDH.

County vaccination clinics offered for ages 5-11

Hennepin County is offering vaccination clinics for children ages 5-11 at two Eden Prairie school locations next week.

Clinics are at the following locations and times:

• Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 3 to 8:30 p.m. at Oak Point Elementary School
• Monday, Dec. 8 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Central Middle School

To register online, go to this website. You can complete the form in English, Spanish, Somali or Hmong. Or you can call 612-348-8900 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Help is available in the same four languages.

New variant discovered in county resident

Minnesota’s first case of the new COVID-19 omicron variant was announced Dec. 2 by MDH. An unidentified Hennepin County man apparently contracted the variant while in New York City to attend the Anime NYC 2021 convention from Nov. 19-21. MDH reported that the man tested positive on Nov. 24 and experienced mild symptoms that have since resolved.

MDH continues to recommend that Minnesotans get vaccinated and, if eligible, a booster. Wearing a well-fitting mask in indoor public places and crowded outdoor settings also is recommended.

Anyone with symptoms, has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, has traveled based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, or has been in a setting in which they may have been exposed, should get tested.

People who are feeling ill should stay home. Frequent handwashing and avoiding crowds continues to be recommended.

Here is a summary of case rate data per 10,000 residents from the Hennepin County COVID-19 Dashboard (as of Dec. 2):