ST PAUL, Minn. — Sunday, Dec. 20
- MDH reported 2,772 new COVID-19 cases, 57 new deaths
- 20,468 Minnesotans have been hospitalized since pandemic began
- Minnesota begins administering COVID-19 vaccine, next batch to arrive at the end of the week
- According to MDH statistics, December already deadliest month in pandemic for Minnesota
- Congress reaches deal on $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus package
2 p.m.
The Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (WDHS) reported 1,826 new cases Sunday, bringing the total number of cases statewide to 457,177.
Health officials reported 18 new deaths on Sunday as the total number of fatalities in Wisconsin rose to 4,417, which is approximately 1% of those testing positive for the virus.
Due to high case numbers, Gov. Tony Evers issued a new emergency order mandating indoor face coverings on Friday, Nov. 20 that will last 60 days.
On Oct. 6, Gov. Evers' administration issued a new order limiting the size of public indoor gatherings to 25% of capacity, to stem the spread of COVID-19. That order was struck down on Oct. 13 by a judge in Sawyer County. The order was reinstated on Oct. 19 by a Barron County judge, but on Oct. 23, a Wisconsin appeals court put a hold on the order.
Wisconsin health officials say a total of 20,120 people have been hospitalized from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, about 4.4% of the total number of people who have been diagnosed with the virus.
Of the confirmed cases in Wisconsin, 19% involve people between the ages of 20 to 29, 16% are between 30 and 39, 15% are between 50 and 59, and 14% are 40 to 49. An estimated 11% are between 10 and 19, and another 11% are between 60 and 69.
As of Sunday, Milwaukee County reported the largest number of confirmed cases with 80,978, along with 905 deaths. Waukesha County has reported 32,265 confirmed cases and 305 deaths, Dane County has reported 31,640 confirmed cases and 136 deaths, and Brown County has reported 25,110 cases and 156 deaths.
A more detailed breakdown of cases by county can be found on the DHS website.
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 2,705 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, along with 70 new deaths.
MDH's COVID-19 case definition includes both antigen testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Positive PCR test results are considered confirmed cases, while positive antigen test results are considered probable cases.
Sunday's new case total includes 2,528 confirmed cases and 177 probable cases.
The total number of Minnesotans who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began is now 397,319, with 12,049 of those as antigen test results.
MDH says 70 new deaths from the virus were reported, which pushes the total number of fatalities in Minnesota to 4,850.
To date, 20,547 Minnesotans have been hospitalized with the coronavirus since the pandemic started, with 4,412 of them needing care in the ICU.
MDH reports that 369,912 people once diagnosed with the virus have recovered enough that they no longer need isolation.
Of those who have tested positive, people between the ages of 20-24 account for the most cases with 40,806 cases and three deaths, and ages 25-29 follow with
35,697 cases and six deaths. Those between 85 and 89 years old account for the highest number of fatalities in one age group with 918 out of 5,241 cases.
In terms of likely exposure to the coronavirus, MDH says 82,393 cases were the result of community transmission with no known contact with an infected person, and 75,721 had known contact with a person who has a confirmed case.
A total of 32,762 cases involved exposure in a congregate living setting,
6,890 were in a corrections setting, and 820 were in a homeless shelter. MDH data shows 17,020 were linked to an outbreak outside of congregate living or health care.
MDH says 24,238 cases were linked to travel. Health care workers or patients account for 11,384 of diagnosed COVID-19 cases. The source of transmission for 146,091 cases is still unknown or missing.
MDH has prioritized testing for people in congregate care, hospitalized patients and health care workers, which may impact the scale of those numbers. However, now MDH is urging anyone who is symptomatic or even asymptomatic to be tested. Testing locations can be found online.
Hennepin County has the most COVID activity in the state with 82,734 cases and 1,313 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 35,491 cases and 631 deaths, Dakota County with 28,677 cases and 255 deaths and Anoka County with 27,829 cases and 291 deaths.
Full data, including a breakdown of PCR and antigen test totals in some categories, can be found on MDH's website.
Saturday, Dec. 19
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 2,772 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, along with 57 new deaths.
MDH's COVID-19 case definition includes both antigen testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Positive PCR test results are considered confirmed cases, while positive antigen test results are considered probable cases.
Saturday's new case total includes 2,550 confirmed cases and 222 probable cases.
The total number of Minnesotans who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began is now 394,635, with 11,877 of those as antigen test results.
MDH says 57 new deaths from the virus were reported, which pushes the total number of fatalities in Minnesota to 4,780.
To date, 20,468 Minnesotans have been hospitalized with the coronavirus since the pandemic started, with 4,392 of them needing care in the ICU.
MDH reports that 365,620 people once diagnosed with the virus have recovered enough that they no longer need isolation.
Of those who have tested positive, people between the ages of 20-24 account for the most cases with 40,559 cases and three deaths, and ages 25-29 follow with
35,471 cases and six deaths. Those between 85 and 89 years old account for the highest number of fatalities in one age group with 902 out of 5,219 cases.
In terms of likely exposure to the coronavirus, MDH says 81,518 cases were the result of community transmission with no known contact with an infected person, and 74,807 had known contact with a person who has a confirmed case.
A total of 32,393 cases involved exposure in a congregate living setting,
6,858 were in a corrections setting, and 813 were in a homeless shelter. MDH data shows 16,710 were linked to an outbreak outside of congregate living or health care.
MDH says 24,025 cases were linked to travel. Health care workers or patients account for 11,267 of diagnosed COVID-19 cases. The source of transmission for 146,244 cases is still unknown or missing.
Hennepin County has the most COVID activity in the state with 82,158 cases and 1,300 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 35,208 cases and 623 deaths, Dakota County with 28,481 cases and 250 deaths and Anoka County with 27,654 cases and 285 deaths.
Friday, Dec. 18
- Modified COVID-19 restrictions will take effect on Saturday, Dec. 19
- Negotiators are nearing an agreement on a second stimulus check in federal aid bill
- Minnesota begins administering COVID-19 vaccine, next batch to arrive at the end of the week
- COVID-19 cases trending down across state, deaths and hospitalizations remain high
2 p.m.
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Commissioner Jan Malcolm gave an update on COVID-19 spread across the state, saying that while things are better locally than they are globally, the situation is still serious.
“The pace of growth in COVID-19 globally is not slowing down,” she said. “And in the United States as of this morning we are definitely not seeing any kind of a slowdown in the nationwide surge.”
However, Malcolm said, statewide things are looking a little better.
“Here in Minnesota we are seeing a more favorable trend we are happy to see,” Malcolm said. “It’s important that we bear in mind even as our numbers are improving … we still remain above the high-risk threshold.”
Malcolm also said the downward trend in hospital bed use has continued over the past week in Minnesota.
“Cases have been stable over the last few days,” Malcolm said, although Minnesota’s cases per population count is still considered high-risk nationally. “We’re still in a high-risk situation,” she said, urging Minnesotans to remain vigilant.
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health says an additional 2,737 cases of coronavirus were added to state totals over the past day, based on results from 63,994 tests (58,397 PCR, 5,597 antigen) processed in private and state labs. Health officials consider a positive PCR test a confirmed case of COVID-19, while a positive antigen test is labeled a probable case.
The new positives bring Minnesota's total cases of the virus to 391,889 since the pandemic arrived. Of those cases, 11,659 are based on antigen tests.
An additional 65 deaths from the virus were reported in the past 24 hours. Friday's reported deaths bring the total in Minnesota to 4,723 since the onset of the pandemic.
Total hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic have now reached 20,323, with 4,383 of those patients requiring ICU care.
Currently, 874 beds in hospitals across the state are being used to treat COVID patients, a number that continues to decrease. Two hundred and seventy people are also in the ICU, for a total of 1,144 patients being treated for the virus throughout Minnesota.
In the Twin Cities, however, the number of available hospital beds fell on Friday. 2.8% of non-ICU beds are currently open, and 6.4% of ICU beds in the metro area are available.
Young adults make up the largest number of COVID cases in Minnesota, with 20 to 24-year-olds accounting for 40,311 cases and three deaths, followed by those 25 to 29 with 35,219 cases and six deaths. People 30 to 34 have recorded 32,705 cases with nine deaths.
The largest grouping of fatalities involves those ages 85 to 89, with 894 deaths in just 5,169 cases.
Hennepin County reports the most COVID activity in the state with 81,645 cases and 1,288 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 34,961 cases and 618 deaths, Dakota County with 28,246 cases and 246 deaths, and Anoka County with 27,470 cases and 281 fatalities.
Cook County in northeastern Minnesota reports the least COVID activity with 100 cases and zero deaths.
Thursday, Dec. 17
The Minnesota Department of Health says an additional 2,775 cases of coronavirus were added to state totals over the past day, based on results from 47,704 tests (42,091 PCR, 5,613 Antigen) processed in private and state labs. Health officials consider a positive PCR test a confirmed case of COVID-19, while a positive Antigen test is labeled a probable case.
The new positives bring Minnesota's total cases of the virus to 389,171 since the pandemic arrived. Of those cases, 11,329 are based on Antigen tests.
An additional 83 deaths from the virus were reported in the past 24 hours. Thursday's reported deaths bring the total in Minnesota to 4,658 since the onset of the pandemic.
Total hospitalizations since the start of the pandemic have now reached 20,172, with 4,353 of those patients requiring ICU care.
Currently, 933 beds in hospitals across the state are being used to treat COVID patients, a number that is gradually decreasing. 289 people are also in the ICU, for a total of 1,222 patients being treated for the virus throughout Minnesota.
Hospital bed availability in the Twin Cities fell on Thursday. 3% of non-ICU beds are currently open, and 6.5% of ICU beds in the metro area are available.
Young adults make up the largest number of COVID cases in Minnesota, with 20 to 24-year-olds accounting for 40,059 cases and three deaths, followed by those 25 to 29 with 34,995 cases and six deaths. People 30 to 34 have recorded 32,428 cases with nine deaths.
The largest grouping of fatalities involves those ages 85 to 89, with 875 deaths in just 5,105 cases.
Hennepin County reports the most COVID activity in the state with 81,200 cases and 1,281 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 34,750 cases and 613 deaths, Dakota County with 28,025 cases and 245 deaths, and Anoka County with 27,329 cases and 272 fatalities.
Cook County in northeastern Minnesota reports the least COVID activity with 99 cases and zero deaths.
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The state of Minnesota has set up a data portal online at mn.gov/covid19.