ST PAUL, Minn. — Thursday, Nov. 18
- Pfizer, US strike $5.29B deal over potential COVID treatment
- Federal emergency medical teams to assist Minnesota hospitals
- Minnesota expanding COVID booster eligibility this week
- Growing number of educators leaving jobs because of the pandemic
- CDC data: Minnesota leads the nation in new COVID-19 cases based on population
Minnesota's COVID-19 hospitalizations and case numbers show no sign of waning, according to data released by state health officials Thursday.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says 1,381 people were being treated for the virus on an inpatient basis as of Wednesday, one person less than reported yesterday. Of that number, 333 require treatment in the ICU.
Hospital capacity continues to be a problem, with zero ICU beds currently available in east central Minnesota, two ICU beds in the far northwest and just seven across the entire Twin Cities metro system.
Total hospitalizations due to COVID have reached 44,033.
MDH recorded 4,827 new COVID infections in the latest reporting period, bringing total cases in the state to 866,055 since the start of the pandemic. That number includes reinfections.
Another 32 people have died from the virus, including a person in their early-to-mid 20s from Carlton County. Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington Counties each recorded three deaths. Total fatalities from COVID now stand at 9,125, of which 4,860 are tied to long-term care or assisted living facilities (53%).
The state vaccine dashboard says a total of 7,468,829 doses have been administered, of which 59.3% are Pfizer, 36.6% are Moderna and just 4.1% Johnson & Johnson. MDH reports that 3,571,757 people age five and up have received at least one immunization (68.5%), with 3,333,515 of those having completed their shot series to be considered fully vaccinated against COVID (64.0%).
Vaccine percentages in our KARE 11 graphics will appear lower than previously shown, due to the fact our vaccination charts will now reflect eligible Minnesotans five and older, where previously charts were based on those 16-plus.
Wednesday, Nov. 17
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health reported another 3,457 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday as the state continues to battle an ongoing coronavirus surge tied to the highly-transmissible delta variant.
The additional cases bring the state's total since the pandemic began to
861,235, including reinfections.
Another 46 deaths were also reported by MDH Wednesday, three of which were among people in their 40s. In total, 9,093 Minnesotans have died of COVID-19.
Hospitalizations increased slightly from Tuesday, with 1,382 people needing care. Of those patients, 320 are currently in the ICU and 1,062 people are in non-ICU beds. On Tuesday, MDH reported 1,348 people were hospitalized.
That's the highest number of daily COVID hospitalizations since Dec. 11, 2020, when 1,406 were reported.
Statewide, only 46 ICU beds are currently open to receive patients. Across the metro system, there are only nine ICU and 17 non-ICU beds available.
MDH says 7,430,246 vaccine doses have been administered in the state so far, with 3,562,569 people ages 5 and up having received at least one dose, or 68.4% of that population.
Of the more than half a million children ages 5-11 in Minnesota, so far 55,939 have at least one dose of their COVID vaccine.
10 a.m.
As Minnesota hospitals feel the strain of the current COVID-19 surge, the federal government is sending dozens of medical personnel to help treat patients and support local staff.
Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday that with help from Sen. Amy Klobuchar his request for emergency staffing assistance was granted, and two Department of Defense medical teams of 22 people each will arrive at HCMC Minneapolis and St. Cloud Hospital next week.
Gov. Walz has also arranged to open bed space in long-term care facilities across the state to alleviate pressure on hospitals. Starting Monday, the governor's office said a third skilled-nursing facility will open for certain patients from Twin Cities hospitals that no longer need hospital-level care but aren't ready to go home.