GF COVID cases still climbing

Grand Forks health officials are keeping watch as COVID numbers outpace vaccinations in recent weeks.  The department’s Michael Dulitz updated council members on the recent uptick last night (Monday).

Dulitz says studies show the Delta variant is more contagious – and as a result more people would need to be vaccinated to reach so-called herd immunity.  “There is some degree of immunity in those who previously had COVID.  If we loo at an optimistic view of immunity we could have up to 67% of the population having some degree of immunity.  In reality the rate is 45 to 67% probably.”

Dulitz says the recent surge in COVID cases is worrisome.

Health officials noted over the past four weeks the case count activity in Grand Forks County has gone from a 7 day average of 0.6 cases per 100,000 per day to 7.4 cases per day.

With that said the local health dashboard remains in the “green” or low risk category.