COVID-19 Information
*Close Contacts & Quarantine Guidelines
*If You Are Sick of Test Positive Guidelines
COVID - 19 Data
Benton County 2020, 2021 & 2022 Comparison Graphs
These graphs show you the comparison of Benton County COVID-19 cases between the years of 2020, 2021, and 2022 (youth are identified in the top graph; adults are identified in the bottom graph). The white boxes indicate the previous year compared at the current time. These graphs show you the importance of continued mitigation strategies. The current mitigation strategies include masking, social distancing, washing hands, covering your cough, staying home when you are not feeling well, following current guidelines around isolation and quarantine, getting a COVID-19 test when needed and getting the COVID-19 vaccine and booster when you are able.
While earlier variants of COVID-19 were affecting adults more seriously, more studies are showing that youth are making up a higher percentage of cases due to the more recent dominant variants. All youth under 5 years are still not eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For the health and safety of all we recommend continuing to practice the mitigation strategies mentioned above.
These graphs are typically updated on a weekly basis. The graphs below were added to our website on 5/16/2022. The data is current through 5/12/2022.
Vaccine Opportunities:
If you are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, please see below for more information and to schedule an appointment through local providers.
Minnesota Department of Health's Vaccine Connector: click here to schedule an appointment.
CentraCare Health COVID-19 Vaccination: click here to schedule an appointment.
Fairview Health COVID-19 Vaccination: click here to schedule an appointment.
Click here to view Minnesota's vaccine dashboard to see COVID-19 vaccination rates statewide and in each county.
Click here to see how Minnesota compares to other states in COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Pfizer-BioNTech (also known as Comirnaty):
- The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is recommended for people aged 5 years and older.
- Based on evidence from clinical trials in people ages 16 years and older, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 95% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two doses without evidence of previous infection.
- In clinical trials, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had over 90% efficacy in preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection in children ages 5–15 years.
- Type of Vaccine: mRNA.
- Number of Shots: 2 shots given 21 days apart.
- How the Shot is Given: in the muscle of the upper arm.
- For more information on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, click here.
- COVID-19 Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine Fact Sheet for Recipients
- Booster Shot: Everyone ages 12 years and older can get a booster shot at least 5 months after completing their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series. Teens 16-17 years old can get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster. Adults 18 years and older can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States for their booster shot.
Moderna:
- The Moderna vaccine is recommended for people aged 18 years and older.
- Based on evidence from clinical trials, the Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who received two doses who had no evidence of being previously infected.
- Type of Vaccine: mRNA.
- Number of Shots: 2 shots given one month (usually 28 days) apart.
- How the Shot is Given: in the muscle of the upper arm.
- For more information on the Moderna vaccine, click here.
- COVID-19 Moderna Vaccine Fact Sheet for Recipients
- Booster Shot: People ages 18 years and older who received a Moderna primary series should get a booster shot at least 5 months after completing their primary series. You can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States for your booster shot.
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen:
- The J&J/Janssen vaccine is recommended for people aged 18 years and older.
- The J&J/Janssen vaccine was 66.3% effective in clinical trials (efficacy) at preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 illness in people who had no evidence of prior infection.
- Type of Vaccine: viral vector.
- Number of Shots: 1
- How the Shot is Given: in the muscle of the upper arm.
- For more information on the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, click here.
- COVID-19 Janssen Vaccine Fact Sheet for Recipients
- Booster Shot: People ages 18 years and older who received a J&J/Janssen primary vaccine should get a booster shot at least 2 months after receiving the vaccine. You can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States for your booster shot. People who developed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome after their initial Janssen vaccine should not receive a Janssen booster dose.
This information has been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information on the different types of COVID-19 vaccines, click here.
COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. If you do happen to get COVID-19 after vaccination (called a breakthrough case), the COVID-19 vaccine will still help reduce your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and even death caused by the COVID-19 virus.
You may have some side effects after vaccination, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may be an inconvenience and may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Everyone's vaccination experience is different and some people have no side effects.
Common Side Effects:
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle Pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
- Pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
Helpful Tips:
Talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medicine, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, or antihistamines, for any pain and discomfort you may experience after getting vaccinated. You can take these medications to relieve post-vaccination side effects if you have no other medical reasons that prevent you from taking these medications normally. It is not recommended that you take these medicines before vaccination for the purpose of trying to prevent side effects.
To reduce pain and discomfort where you got the shot:
- Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the area
- Use or exercise your arm
To reduce discomfort from a fever:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Dress lightly
- Rest
When to Call the Doctor:
In most cases, discomfort from pain or fever is a normal sign that your body is building protection. Contact your doctor or healthcare provider:
- If redness or tenderness where you got the shot gets worse after 24 hours
- If your side effects are worrying you or do not seem to be going away after a few days.
V-safe is a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Through v-safe, you can quickly tell the CDC if you have any side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Depending on your answers to the web surveys, someone from CDC may call to check on you and get more information. V-safe will also remind you to get your second COVID-19 vaccine dose if you need one.
This information has been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information on side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.
Minnesotans can now easily access their immunization record through their smartphones or other mobile devices by using an app called Docket. Docket enables residents with a Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) record to securely view and share their immunization records.
MIIC, Minnesota’s immunization information system, combines all immunizations a person has received into a single record, even if they were given by different health care providers in Minnesota. Anyone who has a MIIC record can use the Docket app to access their record, including their COVID-19 vaccination. The app provides a PDF document of the immunization record that can be saved to your mobile device, printed, emailed, or texted as needed.
Anyone who wants or needs access to their immunization record and does not have a smartphone or does not want to use the app can still request their immunization record from MDH or their health care provider. For more information, visit Find My Immunization Record.
There are several COVID-19 testing options available, including community and at-home testing. Many COVID-19 tests are free, but a health care provider may charge for their time. The table below shows COVID-19 testing recommendations based on different situations. It is important to get tested following the recommendations below to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
You are "fully vaccinated" if it has been two or more weeks since you received your last dose of vaccine. If it has not been at least two weeks since you received one dose in a one-dose series or the second dose in a two-dose series, you are not yet fully vaccinated. Once receiving a booster dose, you are considered "up to date".
Find a COVID-19 testing location
Order an at-home COVID-19 test