Editor’s note: This report is provided free for everyone as a public service. Please consider supporting work like this with a digital subscription to the St. Cloud Times.Benton County is considered to have a medium community level of COVID-19, while Sherburne and Stearns counties have low COVID levels in the community, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.One indicator the CDC uses includes the number of cases per 100,000 people. Medium and high levels include counties with more than 200 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days. The latest data was measured from July 7-13.Sherburne County had 139.86 cases per 100,000 people during this time frame, Stearns County had 165.76 per 100,000 and Benton County had 254.35, according to the CDC. For communities with a medium COVID-19 community level, the CDC recommends individuals at high risk for severe illness talk to their healthcare provider about whether they need to wear a mask or take other measures.However, Benton County’s seven-day total of new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 people and percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients were less than 10 (3.2) and 10% (3.1%), respectively, and therefore the community level is considered medium rather than high.Benton County’s seven-day test positivity rate through Tuesday was 25.67% (meaning that, of the COVID-19 tests administered, 25.67% came back positive). Over the same time period, Sherburne County’s seven-day test positivity rate was 8.99% an …
Benton County has highest COVID-19 case rate among St. Cloud counties – SC Times
