Minnesota Department of Health

The Minnesota Department of Health is recommending continued support for telehealth services after studying the impact of the 2021 Minnesota Telehealth Act.

The changes to the state law — which require disclosure, no matter birth parent preference — come as more people are uncovering their ancestry through DNA testing kits.

Public health departments in Crow Wing and St. Louis counties offer these free kits, but residents are responsible for shipping costs.

The disinfection will be permanent. Grand Rapids Public Utilities estimates it will take one to two weeks for it to be distributed throughout the water system.

Grand Rapids Public Utilities' decision comes after months of testing and analysis. The city's outbreak has lasted over a year, with three new cases in the last 10 days.

The hospital, as required by state law, will participate in a Minnesota Department of Health virtual public hearing on April 30.

Grand Rapids Public Utilities said the YMCA and Itasca County Jail returned positive samples from Department of Health testing in December, and the jail tested positive again in February.

The Minnesota Department of Health and Grand Rapids Public Utilities shared more information about Grand Rapids' Legionnaires' outbreak at a public meeting at Yanmar Arena.

Grand Rapids Public Utilities and the Minnesota Department of Health will share updates on the city's Legionnaires' disease outbreak at a Yanmar Arena meeting.

Grand Rapids is addressing the Legionnaires' outbreak with the Department of Health collaboration and considering a potential chlorination system installation.