B-B-E zip codes post a 9

In the January 6 zip code report, the Minnesota Department of Health reported nine new cases of COVID-19 in the Belgrade, Brooten and Elrosa zip code areas This is an increase from just four reported in the December 30 report during a time when parts of the United States and the rest of the world are going stark-raving mad. Today's report of nine new cases (positive symptomatic and asymptomatic test results) is in a population of about 4,300 adults and children. For now, the oncoming Omicron surge is not here...yet.

The breakdown is as follows:
Belgrade 56312: 4 new cases (2 the previous week)
Brooten 56316: 4 new cases (1 the previous week)
Elrosa 56325: 1 new case (1 the previous week)

Almost every week, this report includes surprises. Some weeks in 2021 included very small increases across west central Minnesota. There's no real pattern that can be ascertained by the numbers, but they are important to know nonetheless. Here's where it is goofy...

In the Melrose 56352 zip code area, they had just two new cases reported today. In the Sauk Centre 56378 zip code, they had just five new cases reported. The total population in those two areas is about 13,900 adults and children. So take a moment to take that in. In the past week, those zip code areas of almost 14,000 people (8,000 for Sauk Centre and 5,900 for Melrose) had just seven new COVID-19 cases reported. Will that go up? There's very little doubt in anyone's mind the numbers will climb again, but to come out of the Christmas holidays with such a low number is outstanding. It's crazy good news that you will never read about in the doom-and-gloom-filled mainstream press of Minnesota.

In Glenwood, their zip code population had 22 new cases compared to 8 in the December 30 report.

More to come in a new web article at the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper website later today. **That article is posted and has more information to be added this afternoon. You can find it by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3HEWLY3. This article has been updated with all area zip codes that I gathered across what is generally about a 40-mile radius of Brooten.

I learned that things have gotten past the point of absurd and crazy in Alexandria, where they force masks on their elementary school kids. The Alexandria school board voted 6-1 to end the ability for the public to give "public comment" in person at their board meetings because they don't like what the public was telling them. I have spoken to a handful of people from Alexandria who have kids in the school system there who are extremely upset with this. It would be great if those pushing forced masking on their younger children would resign their school board seats. That would be a good start for the Alexandria community. They don't force masks in children in the Willmar school district, and their COVID-19 numbers are no different than the numbers in Alexandria. Both zip code populations have about 23,000 adults and children. THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT!