COVID-19 News: Positive cases turn up in Waseca, Mankato (updated)

A Waseca School District teacher and a Mankato State University staffer are the lastest victims of coronavirus in southwestern Minnesota.

A release from the Waseca school said the teacher had not been in the district since Friday, March 13, and the case did not meet the CDC definition of an exposure.  The teacher’s symptoms began to show on March 17. Waseca schools had been closed to all but essential staff through March 19.  School operations will continue as teachers prepare for Distance Learning, which is scheduled to begin March 30.

In an email to the campus community, Mankato State University President Richard Davenport said the patient reported that he or she was diagnosed with the virus, which was confirmed by lab test.

The Minnesota Department of Health has determined that risk of exposure is low, said Davenport, who also thanked the infected individual for self-awareness, and for reporting their condition to the university.

Davenport said the college will work with MDH to identify and notify any close contacts of the staffer.