After weeks as Minnesotaâs top COVID-spreading county, Itasca is seeing significant improvements as vaccination rates rise. Four variants of the virus causing COVID-19 have been identified in Itasca County since January, contributing to an explosion of cases between February and May. Last week, the 14-day rate of infection for every 10,000 Itasca residents was 73.8. This week, the rate is 55.4 percent. Between May 12 and 18, 102 new cases were identified in the community compared to 151 the previous week. Itasca County saw another death due to COVID this week, a woman in her 90s. âFor those who have been vaccinated, the news in our country, state and county is very good,â said Kelly Chandler, Itasca County Public Health division manager. âThe vaccines work and community-wide immunity is on the horizon. But for those who are not yet vaccinated, the risks right now are still very real. Itasca County is not at a place of community (herd) immunityâfar from it. With 53 percent of those 16 and older vaccinated, we have a long way to go to reach at least 70 percent. Combine that with the presence of variants in the county and an influx of seasonal visitors and we, unfortunately, cannot let our guards down.â