ST PAUL, Minn. — Friday, Oct. 1
- Health officials report 3,714 new COVID cases, 17 deaths
- CDC issues advisory urging pregnant women to get the COVID vaccine
- 799 people hospitalized around the state for COVID-19
- CDC director says Halloween Trick or Treating is safe for kids
New numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health show more than 3,700 new COVID cases were reported Friday (3,714), which is the highest number of daily cases since December 2020.
Data indicates 39% of today's new cases were recorded in the seven county metro area (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington Counties), while 61% were reported in greater Minnesota.
The cumulative total cases in the state is now at 714,790 since the start of the pandemic.
MDH also reported 17 deaths from the virus on Friday, bringing the cumulative death total to 8,170 since the pandemic began. The fatalities include a person between the ages of 30 and 34 in McLeod County.
Health officials say 4,639 of those deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
According to MDH's latest data available, 799 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 590 in non-ICU beds and 209 in the ICU.
Total hospitalizations since the arrival of COVID have risen to 38,128.
MDH reported 6,458,044 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,403,638 people age 16 and older having received at least one shot (73.4%). Of that number 3,232,465 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (69.9%).
Meanwhile, Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Vikings announced that they are giving away free tickets to the Vikings final regular season home game against the Bears on Jan. 9, as part of the "Skol Up Your Sleeves Giveaway."
Minnesota residents 18 years of age and older who get vaccinated at pop-up vaccination clinics staged at the next two Vikings home games will be entered into the drawing for the tickets.
The pop-up clinics will be outside U.S. Bank Stadium from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Oct. 3 and 10.
According to a news release, "two winners will be drawn from all eligible entrants at the Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 pop-up clinics and will each receive a pair of tickets to the Polaris Club for the home game."
Officials say in addition to first and second doses, boosters will also be offered at those clinics. The site will administer the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the two-dose Pfizer vaccine. You do not need a game ticket to get vaccinated.
The first 50 Minnesotans 12 years of age and older who get their COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinics will receive player autographed mini-helmets.
Thursday, Sept. 30
On Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 2,874 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, with an additional 13 people dying from the virus.
The cumulative total cases in the state is now at 711,094 since the start of the pandemic.
Of the 13 deaths reported Thursday, one death included a person between the ages of 50 and 54 in Washington County. The rest of the deaths were reported in people 55 and older.
Those deaths bring the total in Minnesota to 8,153. Health officials say of that number, 4,637 deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
According to MDH's latest data available, 789 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 582 in non-ICU beds and 207 in the ICU.
Total hospitalizations since the arrival of COVID have risen to 38,031.
MDH reported 6,442,232 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,400,919 people age 16 and older having received at least one shot (73.4%). Of that number 3,229,812 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (69.9%).
Of the COVID vaccine administered so far, 58.3% is Pfizer, 37.2% is Modern and 4.4% Johnson & Johnson.
Wednesday, Sept. 29
- MDH: Deaths, hospitalizations highest since January 2021
- CDC director says Halloween Trick or Treating is safe for kids
- Pfizer submits data to FDA on COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11
- Minnesota selling refrigerated warehouse meant as backup morgue
- State ready to begin administering Pfizer booster shots
The human toll of COVID-19 continues to be felt in Minnesota, with state health officials recording 31 new deaths in the last day.
Investigators with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) report that three of those deaths actually occurred in previous months, but 28 of them are current. The last time death numbers were this high was in late January of 2021. Anoka County reported six COVID deaths, Scott County reported five, while Hennepin, Sherburne and St. Louis Counties recorded three fatalities each.
Those deaths bring the total in Minnesota to 8,140 since the beginning of the pandemic.
When asked about the three deaths reported from August 2021 and November of 2020, MDH pointed to a statement on their website. "Death investigations involve receiving and reviewing information from multiple sources, including but not limited to death certificates, medical records, case report forms, laboratory reports, and autopsy reports before a case classification can be made."
Cases are trending lower with MDH reporting 2,077 new infections, down from near the 3,000 mark last week. Total cases now sit at 708,220 since health officials began recording them in March of 2020.
MDH also released the department's most recent data on breakthrough cases involving residents who are fully vaccinated. As of Monday 28,047 breakthrough cases had been recorded (.890% of those vaccinated), with 1,495 of those people requiring hospitalization (.047% of those fully vaccinated) and 160 people dying from a breakthrough case (.004% of those fully vaccinated).
The news on hospitalizations is not as positive. MDH says 800 people were being treated for COVID in Minnesota hospitals as of Tuesday, with 206 of them in ICU. The last time numbers were this high was also in January of 2021.
Hospital bed availability remains low in the Twin Cities metro, with just 11 ICU beds available (1.7% of supply) and 49 non-ICU beds open (1.4%).
MDH says 6,427,895 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered so far, with 58.3% of them Pfizer, 37.3% of them Modern and just 4.4% Johnson & Johnson. The number of Minnesotans eligible to receive the vaccine who have received at least one dose is at 3,398,906 as of Monday (73.3% of those 16 and over), with 3,227,882 of those residents (69.9%) having completed the COVID shot series to be considered fully vaccinated.
Tuesday, Sept. 28
11 a.m.
New numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health Tuesday show more than 6,000 new COVID cases were reported over the last three days.
Numbers reported on Tuesdays appear high as they reflect data collected between 4 a.m. Friday and 4 a.m. Monday.
MDH says there are 6,203 new COVID-19 infections in the state, propelling the total number of cases in Minnesota past the 700,000 mark. As of Tuesday, 706,158 people have tested positive for the virus since the beginning of the pandemic.
Another 11 deaths were also reported by MDH, brining the state's death toll to 8,109. All new deaths occurred in people 55 or older, according to MDH.
As of Monday, 767 people are hospitalized because of COVID with 196 needing ICU care. The other 571 patients are in non-ICU beds.
When it comes to vaccinations, 73.3% of Minnesotans 16 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, or 3,396,209 people. According to the state health department, 69.8% of people in the same age group are fully vaccinated, or 3,225,345 Minnesotans.
While Pfizer's two-dose COVID-19 vaccine is currently authorized for people 12 and older, the drug maker is moving forward to try and get its shot approved for younger children. On Tuesday morning Pfizer submitted early data to the FDA to support approving the vaccine for kids 5-11 years old. The company says it will officially file for Emergency Use Authorization in the coming weeks.