Minnesota health officials issue warnings for travelers during recent COVID-19 outbreaks

[KARE 11 News, March 21, 2021] Recent video from this weekend show maskless spring breakers packing together – leading Miami Beach to declare a state of emergency and set an 8 p.m. curfew, as millions of people flock to warm destinations and beaches.

“Hearing about that makes me concerned for the opportunity not only for spread, but it would allow for more people to be exposed to B117 (variant) in other parts of the country and bring it back," says Kris Ehresmann with the Minnesota Health Department.

She says it's gatherings like this that may cause setbacks. Minnesota is now seeing outbreaks of the variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the U.K. in four counties. A variant that, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, accounts for 20-30% of all current infections in the U.S.

“Travel gets these things spread about, and with respect to B117,” says Dr. Frank Rhame, Allina Health infectious disease specialist. “We have a lot of it here already and don't need anymore."

Posted on March 21, 2021 in coronavirus, Infectious Disease