COVID-19 newsletter - March 4, 2022

  • News
  • Mar 4, 2022
COVID-19 Newsletter

New CDC guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated COVID-19 guidance and how it measures COVID-19 community levels. The three metrics to determine the COVID-19 community level include:

  • New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days.
  • The percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients
  • Total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days.

With these updated metrics, Olmsted County has a high community level. As a result, the CDC guidance is:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
  • Get tested if you have symptoms.
  • Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness.

The CDC updated its guidance with more tools available to prevent COVID-19 from placing strain on communities and health care systems.

With current high levels of vaccination and high levels of population immunity from both vaccination and infections, the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 is greatly reduced for most people.

Health officials and individuals should consider current information about COVID-19 hospitalizations in the community, as well as the potential for strain on the local health system and COVID-19 cases in the community, when making decisions about community prevention strategies and individual behaviors. Communities and individuals should also make decisions based on whether they are at high risk for severe disease and consider inequities in access to prevention strategies.

COVID-19 community levels can help communities and individuals make decisions based on their local context and unique needs. Community vaccination coverage and other local information, like early alerts from surveillance, such as through wastewater or the number of emergency department visits for COVID-19, when available, can also inform decision making for health officials and individuals.

Masking still required in city and county buildings

Olmsted County and the City of Rochester are still requiring masks to be worn in city and county government buildings and facilities until further notice. Olmsted County is still classified as having “High” community transmission based on updated guidance from the CDC last Friday, February 25, 2022.


The county and city will continue to monitor the data and our community’s transmission level closely and adjust policies as appropriate.


Entering year three of COVID response

Olmsted County started its COVID-19 response efforts in February 2020. Shortly afterward, the county declared a health emergency due to the COVID-19 virus on March 17, 2020.

Like elsewhere in the U.S., Olmsted County’s response to the pandemic has evolved from shutdowns and physical distancing to vaccine availability and a gradual return to gathering in public settings.

As we start entering the third year of COVID-19 in our lives, new cases of COVID-19 are down 90 percent from the peak about a year ago. Despite this news, Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS), Mayo Clinic, and Olmsted Medical Center (OMC), continue to encourage the public to remain cautious.

Some people are still vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, including people who are immunocompromised, children under five who can’t yet be protected by COVID-19 vaccines and the 30% of people in the U.S. and 21.8% in Olmsted County, who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Updates from OCPHS, Mayo Clinic, and OMC

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS)
COVID-19 cases are continuing to decline, about 437 cases in the previous week. While cases decline, Olmsted County remains a community of high transmission, so masking and other mitigation efforts are still recommended. Visit the Olmsted County COVID webpage for the latest updates.

Upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics at OCPHS
Olmsted County Public Health Services will be holding walk-in clinics for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine or booster throughout the month of March. Pfizer vaccines and boosters will be administered to anyone five-years-old and up on the following days: 

  • March 9, 2022 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • March 11, 2022 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • March 15, 2022 - 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All vaccine clinics will take place at the OCPHS building at 2100 Campus Dr. SE, Rochester, MN.

If you’d like to receive a vaccine or booster at one of these clinics, you do not need to register in advance. You will just need to tell OCPHS employees at the front desk that you’d like to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or booster. Staff will help you fill out the appropriate paperwork needed to receive the vaccine.

If you have questions, please contact covidvaccine@co.olmsted.mn.us.

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic in Rochester eased restrictions for hospitalized patients on Thursday, February 24, 2022.

The number of visitors per adult inpatient is two consistent designated visitors. Visitors must be at least five years old. This is consistent with pediatric patient restrictions. A responsible adult must accompany all visitors under age 16. 

For the Family Birth Center, two consistent designated visitors aged 16 or older will be allowed for the duration of the hospital stay. 

Mayo Clinic continues to encourage people ages five and older to get vaccinated or to get a booster, if you are age 12 and older and are five months out from a second COVID-19 vaccination. 

Individuals or parents and guardians can self-schedule a vaccination appointment:

  • Use your Patient Online Services account to schedule an appointment online or through the Mayo Clinic app.
  • Call the Rochester campus Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or weekends from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: 507-538-4040.
  • If you don’t have a Patient online Services account, call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 877-858-0398.

If you are eligible to receive a booster dose COVID-19 vaccine, check COVID-19 vaccine options by Mayo Clinic campus.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters, visit the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 vaccine information site.

Olmsted Medical Center (OMC)

Face Mask Reminder
Employees, vendors, patients, and visitors are reminded to wear a surgical mask when in OMC buildings. If needed, patients and visitors will be provided a surgical mask to wear when going through the screening process. Patients who have their own surgical mask are invited to wear them when visiting an OMC building. 

COVID-19 Vaccines Available in Family Medicine department
Beginning Monday, March 7, appointments for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for patients 12 years of age and older can be made in OMC’s Family Medicine department at both the Rochester Southeast Clinic and the Rochester Northwest Clinic. Appointments are available Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM. Patients are able to make the nurse-only appointment by calling 507-292-7300 or by scheduling a time using OMC MyChart.

Appointments for pediatric patients who are ages 5–11 years old will continue to be offered on Saturdays. To schedule an appointment for Saturday, parents/guardians should call 507.292.7300 or schedule a time using OMC MyChart.

There are no walk-in COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

Hours at OMC’s COVID-19 Testing Site at FastCare North
OMC’s COVID-19 Testing Site is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The location is closed for lunch from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

There are two ways to make an appointment to be tested:

  1. Call the COVID triage line at 507-292-7266 during the hours of 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 
  2. Schedule an appointment online using the patient portal, OMC MyChart. After you sign into your OMC MyChart account, select “Symptom Checker” from the Menu.

When you arrive at the vaccination location, you will be asked a series of questions to be sure you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Please bring your vaccine card with you to the vaccination appointment.