MARSHALL — We’re now in the second week of a statewide stay-at-home order, and Minnesota is seeing some signs that it’s helping with COVID-19 response.

However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the state will be going back to business as usual.

In a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Tim Walz said it was important for Minnesotans to keep following the order in order to help “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 cases, and buy time for health care workers to prepare for a spike in cases.

As of Tuesday, he said, “We’re seeing some pretty strong indicators we’re pushing that curve back. We’re bending it a little bit, and we are giving ourselves exactly what we needed to do to give ourselves time to reassess where we’re at.”

At the same time, Walz said, state officials didn’t want to give people a false sense of security.

“It will come,” he said of a predicted surge of COVID-19.

The governor’s stay-at-home order expires April 10. Walz didn’t give a lot of details in the briefing, but hinted that at least some parts of the order will be extended. Walz told reporters he wanted a chance to go over the order, and refine it based on what’s been working the best.

Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the state epidemiologist has been keeping track of the rising number of COVID-19 cases reported in the state. In particular, they’re looking at how fast the number of cases doubles. Since March 18, the rate has slowed down to once every eight days, Malcolm said.

“That’s good news for our state,” she said. It’s a sign that measures like the stay-at-home order are helping to slow the spread of COVID-19.

As of Tuesday, there’s been no change in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Lyon County area, MDH data said. However, the total number of cases in Minnesota is now at 1,069. Of that total, 549 people have recovered and no longer need to be isolated. So far, there have been 34 deaths reported in Minnesota.

Questions about the stay-at-home order were also on area business people’s minds during a Tuesday video conference hosted by the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We fully anticipate it being extended,” said Ann Orren, community public health supervisor for Southwest Health and Human Services. However, SWHHS didn’t know exactly when that decision might come from the governor, she said.

Orren took questions from area businesspeople, and was able to share more information about how positive coronavirus cases were reported by the state.

Not everyone who reports COVID-19 symptoms gets tested for it, Orren said. Right now, the priority is on testing health care workers who are ill, and people who are hospitalized, she said. If a person tests positive, the Minnesota Department of health notifies local public health agencies based on the person’s county of residence. The MDH also conducts interviews with the person to find out who may have been in close contact with them, and notifies those contacts. An example of a high-risk contact would be a spouse or household member of the person who tested positive, Orren said.

Orren said a person with COVID-19’s employers aren’t likely to be notified by the MDH unless they are identified as being a high or medium-risk contact. She urged employers to consider health privacy laws and other factors when deciding whether to tell their other employees about someone being tested for COVID-19.

If a business has already been using social distance measures in the workplace, like spacing out employees, staggering work schedules or encouraging telework, there’s probably not a high risk from a worker who tests positive for COVID-19, she said. Sources like the MDH and the CDC also offer guidelines on cleaning and sanitizing to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Make decisions based on reputable sources,” Orren urged local businesspeople.

Walz said Tuesday it’s still important for Minnesotans to stay home and practice social distancing, even when it’s difficult. Walz recognized that important religious holidays like Passover, Easter and Ramadan were all approaching.

“We hear you, and we know it’s an important time,” Walz said. As much as people want to gather to celebrate or observe their faith, we will need to find ways to honor those traditions while keeping a social distance, he said. “We certainly don’t want people gathering in large numbers in closed spaces.”