CentraCare

St. Cloud health officials say they will not be creating their own COVID-19 test kits.

As CentraCare prepares for a spike in COVID-19 cases in central Minnesota it's actually been pretty quiet at most of their facilities for several weeks now.

St. Cloud Hospital has had just one confirmed COVID-19 patient so far. CentraCare Dr. George Morris says that person has already been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home.

With an anticipated spike in COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the coming weeks, how is CentraCare planning for it?

Nurse who manages clinical care for high-risk patients in St. Cloud area "keeps a positive attitude," colleague says.

While this time of isolation may be challenging for us, it's even harder for residence in hospice care.

I talked with Dr. George Morris from CentraCare on WJON today. He explained that Minnesota is doing well with social distancing which is helping to decrease the spread of this virus. As of 8 a.m. today Stearns County has 5 confirmed cases of Covid-19, Benton County has 1 and Sherburne County has 1.

CentraCare is limiting access into the St. Cloud Hospital.

CentraCare Health has not been treating an in-patient COVID-19 positive patients so far.

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, CentraCare is closing their quickClinic locations inside several grocery stores.