GF COVID-19 cases remain low…testing down

New cases of COVID-19 remain low in Grand Forks County and health officials say that has resulted in fewer people coming out to be tested. Public Health Director Debbie Swanson says the number of people getting swabbed has gone from some 2,000 per seven days to around 1,000.

Swanson says vaccination activity is up as of late but it’s due to booster shots and not new arms getting jabbed.  “We also know some people are taking calculated risks about when to get boosters thinking that they want to be protected in the fall so they delay boosters to get a full six months of protection.  We are not making recommendations – but we know people are making the calculation.”

The vaccination rate in Grand Forks County for all eligible ages five and up is around 59.1%.
Swanson told Grand Forks County Board members this week that testing of wastewater also confirms low levels of the virus right now.