BEMIDJI — High rates of respiratory illnesses are prompting visitor restrictions and masking measures to be implemented by Northern Minnesota health care providers.
Earlier this month in its Bemidji and Bagley locations, Sanford Health announced seasonal visitor restrictions and mask requirements for those recently exposed to or visiting a patient with a respiratory illness such as influenza or COVID-19.
CHI-St. Gabriel’s Health in Little Falls reported on Jan. 15 it would implement a mandatory masking policy for all patients entering its facilities, including the hospital, Family Medical Center, Little Falls Orthopedics, and the Pierz and Randall clinics.
Dr. Matthew Hallanger, emergency department physician at Sanford Health hospital in Bemidji, said the measures are intended to prevent the spread of illness both inside the facilities and in the broader community.
“We're trying to limit how much additional illness the people who are here — who are already sick — get exposed to,” Hallanger said. “And we're also trying to keep people in the community who aren't sick from getting ill from coming and visiting people in the hospitals.
“ ... Those are protections for the staff here, so we can continue to take care of the patients themselves and for their family members, who are trying to help take care of them here in the hospital. So we're trying to reduce the spread of illness in whatever way we can.”

The Thursday, Jan. 23, report from the Minnesota Department of Health monitoring influenza and respiratory illnesses shows total hospitalizations have exceeded the number recorded in 2022-23 — and flu season is roughly half over.
To date for the week ending Jan. 18, 3,392 people have been hospitalized with the flu in the state. Hospitalizations declined this week over last, from 774 to 629. But outbreaks in K-12 schools rose sharply, from 16 last week to 94 this week.
Statistics from the state show the number of cases per capita among the hospitalized is the highest in the northwest region, reaching 9.1 per 10,000 people compared to 6.2 in the metro.
Hallanger said influenza A is by far the most common illness he’s seen in Sanford Health’s emergency department this season, accounting for more than half of those tested. They’re also seeing cases of influenza B, COVID-19, other coronaviruses and enteroviruses.
The vast majority of people won’t require hospitalization for these illnesses, but those with preexisting conditions, the very young and people over 65 are more susceptible to severe disease.
“For those patients, any time that they are feeling especially short of breath or are having trouble like eating, drinking — those would be reasons to come in and see us,” Hallanger said. “One of the biggest reasons that we see children needing to be admitted is when they just are so sick they're having trouble just even keeping fluids down and are not making wet diapers. That's always a key warning sign in children.”
Hallanger also noted the warning signs of bacterial pneumonia, which can be marked by improvement before a sudden decline in a patient’s ability to breathe.
“The emergency department is really a place where if you're concerned that you just know something's not right, we're always open and happy to evaluate people,” he said. “If it's something where you're like, you know, I don't feel great, but maybe this can wait — if you have a regular doctor, then getting in touch with their office is ideal. But I mean, they also get overwhelmed at this time of year.”
Drinking plenty of fluids and getting quality rest can help sick people with recovery, and to prevent spreading illnesses to others, Hallanger said it’s best to isolate at home. But if you need to go in public, he said to think about being considerate in not spreading infected droplets.
“If you're out and about, it would be really great if people would wear a mask, just out of consideration to giving illnesses to other people. And failing that, the other important thing to do would be to cover your mouth when you cough,” he said. “Just like my mom always got after me for, if I ever forgot. And making sure you wash your hands.”
Hallanger noted there’s still plenty of flu season left for the vaccines to be effective, and he encouraged people to get their shots.
“If you're wondering, did I get my flu and COVID shots this year? I did,” he said. “Partly because I'm exposed to so much of it at work, but also because they're the most effective preventative measures we [have], even imperfect as they may be.”