COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Trend Up in Itasca County as Vaccine Rollout Continues Itasca County Public Health Division Urges All Residents to Research and Receive Their COVID-19 Vaccination April 29, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – Itasca County Public Health and area residents are reflecting on the gratitude of science after surpassing the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Health Department reports new cases of COVID-19 to continue to rise in Itasca County, especially among residents aged 30 – 50, and school-aged children. As of Thursday, April 29, in the past seven days, 152 new cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the county. One year into the pandemic, hospitalizations are also continuing to rise.