Submitted photo During a video address on Wednesday, Marshall Public Safety Director Jim Marshall encouraged people to keep following social distancing guidelines.

MARSHALL — Minnesotans are being asked to stay at home a little longer, and on Wednesday local officials and emergency responders said they are encouraging people to follow that order to help fight the spread of COVID-19.

Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes said the extension of Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order will be a continuation of what many local residents have been doing for the past two weeks.

“I think we can be pleased with how our people in the city and the region are taking this seriously,” Byrnes said. While there are cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the region, it’s a positive thing that we haven’t had more, he said.

In a Wednesday video update on the stay-at-home order, Marshall Public Safety Director Jim Marshall urged the public to remember that the order’s purpose is to keep everyone safe.

“We know there are going to be concerns,” both from individuals and businesses in Marshall, he said. However, he emphasized that law enforcement are still going to be working more on educating people than strictly enforcing the governor’s order. “That’s really been reflected in the governor’s order since the get-go,” he said.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota rose to 1,154 on Wednesday. Of those positive cases, 632 people have recovered and no longer need to be isolated, the Minnesota Department of Health reported.

There have been 39 COVID-19 deaths reported in Minnesota so far.

There were only a few new positive cases of COVID-19 reported in the area on Wednesday. Yellow Medicine County is now at two confirmed cases. In Brown County, the number of positive cases has gone up by two, to a total of seven people. On Tuesday, Brown County health officials said the two newest patients included an individual in their 60s, who is hospitalized, and an individual in their 50s who was in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. That individual is recovering at home.

Slowing the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible helps give responders time to prepare for a projected surge in cases this spring or summer, said Lyon County Emergency Manager Dan DeSmet.

“It’s been a huge help,” DeSmet said. “That’s kind of been a big part of the ‘flatten the curve’ message the governor’s been putting out.”

Over the past two weeks, area emergency responders have been getting ready to deal with a COVID-19 surge.

“There has been a tremendous amount of planning going on,” Byrnes said. Byrnes and DeSmet said the planning work has involved not just city and county responders, but area health care providers and groups like the National Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers. DeSmet said part of the work that’s been going on has been trying to identify area locations that could be turned into alternate health care sites if more hospital beds are needed for COVID-19 patients. Some possible sites have been identified in towns including Marshall, Balaton and Slayton, he said.

Hopefully, responders would be getting more information this week on which locations have been chosen as alternate care sites, DeSmet said.

On Wednesday, Marshall city officials said it will be important for everyone to keep practicing social distancing, and washing their hands often. We may start seeing more people wearing masks in public, “And that’s OK,” said Dr. Steven Meister. Wearing a mask, even if you don’t have symptoms, can help keep you from spreading the coronavirus to other people, he said.

Jim Marshall asked parents to remind children not to gather in close groups in recreation areas, and Byrnes and Meister said people need to be careful to keep social distance even through the Easter holidays.

“This is not the time to be having huge gatherings,” Meister said. People can still celebrate, even if they’re celebrating at home, he said.

Some Minnesota churches are already following that advice, after Gov. Walz’s announcement on Wednesday. The Diocese of New Ulm announced Wednesday that it is extending the suspension of public Masses through May 4, to go along with the stay-at-home order. Bishop John M. LeVoir said the suspension would help slow down the pandemic, while protecting parishioners and clergy.