NEW ULM — Influenza test positivity rates continued to climb at Allina hospitals in Minnesota, according to data released Tuesday.

The influenza positive test rate was 39.9% for the week ending Jan. 11, a 9.4% increase from the previous week. There were 153 hospitalized influenza cases in Minnesota Allina hospitals.

There were 71 COVID-19 hospitalized cases and 19 RSV cases as of Jan. 11.

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) test positivity was 11%, a 1.9% increase from the previous week. COVID-19 test positivity was 7.1%, a 1.3% decrease from the previous week.

“I can confirm there has been a lot of respiratory illness across Minnesota. It’s been trending up over the past month. The positivity test data comes from patient swabs Allina does,” said New Ulm Medical Center Medical Director and Family Medicine Physician Dr. Bryana Andert.

Andert said most of the Allina hospitalizations are at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

As of the week ending Jan. 4, there were 470 metro area flu hospitalizations. That compares to 23 in south central and 13 in southwest Minnesota.

Mandatory masks are back.

“Based on the continuing rise of respiratory illness, especially influenza, New Ulm Medical Center and Allina hospitals went back to mandatory masks for staff as of Jan. 7. Even if people are healthy, doctors and nurses all wear masks,” Andert said.

She said patients don’t need to see a doctor at the medical center for all illnesses.

“Most of what we see is viral. It’s often influenza. We see lots of people with a fever and cough too,” said Andert.

“If it’s mild, we want people to stay home and take care of themselves, stay hydrated, eat well, get plenty of rest, take Vitamin C, over the counter cold and cough medicine and Tylenol or Ibuprofen,” she said..

Andert said patients with moderate symptoms should be seen in the medical center clinic, walking-in for same day visits without an appointment.

“Patients may have to wait, depending on how busy the clinic is. The express care clinic open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday,” said Andert.

Patients with severe symptoms that have been sick a few days, feel very weak or are dehydrated should consider coming to the emergency department that is open 24-7.

Andert had advice for people that feel sick.

“We want them to stay home instead of going out or somewhere with lots of people like a sports event, to help decrease illness spread,” she said.

Brown County Public Health Director Jaimee Brand said overall, Brown County is doing well with vaccine rates, especially school-age children.

“I’m glad to see Brown County has good vaccine rates, over the state average, for kindergarten and 7th-graders. There has been one reported pertussis case in Brown County,” she said.

Brand said vaccines are available at Brown County Public Health by calling 507-233-6820 and at many pharmacies and healthcare facilities.

According to Minnesota Department of Health data, 52% of Brown County residents age 65 and older received flu vaccine, 69.8% received tetanus and tetanus with pertussis, and 44.7% got a shingles vaccine over the past year.

Brown County’s overall COVID-19 vaccine rate is 13.4%. The statewide average is 18.4%. Brown County’s overall influenza vaccine rate is 27.7% for all ages. The statewide rate is 29.5%.

“There are a lot of reasons people could be ill right now. Viruses circulate more in the winter months. People are cooped up indoors and there are lots of indoor activities,” said Brand.

People at increased risk for flu complications include adults 65 and older, children under age 2, people with asthma, chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver, blood and other diseases and disorders.

Preventative actions include vaccines, avoiding people who are sick, covering coughs and washing hands often.

For more information, visit https://www.health.mn.us/diseases/respiratory/stats/vaccine.html.