Sunday, Aug. 30
2:00 p.m.
The Wisconsin's Department of Health Services reported 537 new cases Sunday, as the total number of confirmed cases rose to 75,337.
Health officials also announced three new deaths Sunday, raising the total number of fatalities statewide to 1,122.
Wisconsin health officials say a total of 5,804 people have been hospitalized from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, 7.7% of the total number of people who have been diagnosed with the virus.
Of the confirmed cases in Wisconsin, 25% involve people between the ages of 20 to 29, 17% are between 30 and 39, 14% are between 40 and 49, and 14% are 50 to 59. An estimated 10% are between 10 and 19, and 9% are between 60 and 69.
As of Saturday, Milwaukee County reported the largest number of cases with 24,040 and 489 deaths. Waukesha County reports 5,565 cases and 74 deaths, while Dane County has registered 5,426 cases and 40 deaths.
A more detailed breakdown of cases by county can be found on the DHS website.
11:15 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced Sunday that the number of positive coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Minnesota has increased by 934 bringing the cumulative total to 75,189.
Two more people also died, bringing the death total to 1,816.
Health officials say 1,338 deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
Of the two new deaths, one occurred at a private residence and one in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
MDH also said Sunday that the total number of tests taken is at 1,478,432.
Minnesota hospitals are currently treating 315 patients for COVID-19, with 136 of them dealing with symptoms serious enough to require care in the ICU.
MDH reports that 66,916 people once diagnosed with the virus have recovered enough that they no longer require isolation.
Of those who have tested positive, people between the ages of 20-24 account for the most cases with 9,923 cases and one death, and those ages 25-29 follow with 7,586 cases and three deaths. Those between 85 and 89 years old account for the highest number of fatalities in one age group at 306, out of 1,070
confirmed cases.
In terms of likely exposure to the coronavirus, MDH says 19,132 cases were the result of community transmission with no known contact with an infected person, and 16,944 had known contact with a person who has a confirmed case.
A total of 10,075 cases involved exposure in a congregate living setting, 832 were in a corrections setting, and 270 were in a homeless shelter. MDH data shows. 7,071 were linked to an outbreak outside of congregate living or health care.
MDH says 6,046 cases were linked to travel. Health care workers or patients account for 2,617 of diagnosed COVID-19 cases.
Hennepin County has the most cases in the state at 22,984 with 879 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 9,132 cases and 298 deaths. Dakota County reports 5,867 cases and 110 deaths.
Saturday, Aug. 29
8:45 p.m.
Governor Tim Walz announced today that he has received approval from FEMA for the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program.
Those receiving unemployment benefits are eligible through the LWA program to receive a temporary additional $300 per week if they already have a weekly unemployment benefit of at least $100 and are unemployed as a result of COVID-19.
“I am glad that Minnesotans receiving unemployment benefits will receive an additional $300 a week to help make ends meet during this crisis,” Walz says. “We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to help Minnesotans through this pandemic.”
In a release put out by the governor's office, officials made it clear that those already receiving unemployment benefits need not reapply for benefits to receive the extra $300. Recipients can simply continue to submit their usual weekly benefit requests.
“This extra $300 per week will matter for Minnesotans and their families. I’m glad we took the steps to make this happen for Minnesotans,” says Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. “But an extra $300 per week is not a reflection of the entirety of the burden this pandemic has put on Minnesotans. We hope that our federal partners will continue to work to provide relief for Minnesotans and other Americans need.”
Officials say the Department of Employment and Economic Development will "review all payment requests made for the week of July 26 going forward and automatically pay applicants who are eligible for LWA."
2 p.m.
Wisconsin's Department of Health Services reported 819 new cases Saturday, as the total number of confirmed cases rose to 74,800.
Health officials announced six additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities statewide to 1,119. The total number of fatalities is approximately 1.5% of those testing positive for the virus.
Wisconsin health officials say a total of 5,775 people have been hospitalized from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, 7.7% of the total number of people who have been diagnosed with the virus.
Of the confirmed cases in Wisconsin, 25% involve people between the ages of 20 to 29, 17% are between 30 and 39, 14% are between 40 and 49, and 14% are 50 to 59. An estimated 10% are between 10 and 19, and 9% are between 60 and 69.
Milwaukee County reported the largest number of cases with 23,977 and 489 deaths. Waukesha County reports 5,525 cases and 74 deaths, while Dane County has registered 5,387 cases and 40 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 1,032 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases Saturday. Higher numbers of new cases over the next couple of days may be due to a backlog at one Minnesota lab, MDH said on Thursday.
This brings the total number of Minnesotans who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began to 74,257.
MDH says another 4 Minnesotans have died of complications from the virus during the past day, bringing the total number of fatalities in the state to 1,814.
Minnesota hospitals are currently treating 313 patients for COVID-19, with 134 of them dealing with symptoms serious enough to require care in the ICU.
MDH reports that 66,107 people once diagnosed with the virus have recovered enough that they no longer require isolation.
Of those who have tested positive, people between the ages of 20-24 account for the most cases with 9,734 cases and one death, and those ages 25-29 follow with 7,505 cases and three deaths. Those between 85 and 89 years old account for the highest number of fatalities in one age group at 306, out of 1,064
confirmed cases.
Hennepin County has the most cases in the state at 22,736 with 879 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 9,070 cases and 298 deaths. Dakota County reports 5,762 cases and 110 deaths.
Friday, Aug. 28
- COVID-19 clusters identified at weddings, funerals and other events
- 254 cases connected to colleges and universities since Aug. 17
- MDH seeing 'concerning' uptick in cases across the state
- State health officials still urge anyone exposed to COVID-19 to get tested, despite federal guidance
2 p.m.
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann said state officials are seeing a "concerning" uptick in COVID-19 case numbers.
Despite a backlog of data coming from one lab creating an artificially high case count on Thursday, Ehresmann said they are seeing case numbers rise across Minnesota in general. She said they've been getting reports of events where people are not following public health guidelines.
"We’ve identified 21 clusters of COVID cases associated with parties, events, et cetera, just in August," Ehresmann said.
She said they're also receiving many complaints about people not following the statewide mask mandate.
"This has been a long road and I know many thought we would be at the end by now, but unfortunately we’re not," she said. "We still need everyone to do their part."
Ehresmann said that 46 cases have now been identified in Minnesotans who attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Two people have been hospitalized, one of whom is in the ICU.
In total, MDH has identified 76 "social outbreaks" so far in the pandemic, and 21 clusters of cases associated with parties and events in August alone.
"We know that there was a large wedding in Lyon County," Ehresmann said. "There have been some large funerals."
She said those types of events along with festivals, fairs and events like Sturgis have been responsible for these clusters. Ehresmann said in fact, one person who tested positive from Sturgis later attended a wedding where health officials expect more people were exposed.
Since the week of Aug. 17, when many colleges began bringing students back, Ehresmann said there have been 254 COVID-19 cases associated with a college or university.
Those include 206 students and 39 staff. Ninety people were on campus while infectious, according to MDH.
Fifty-one colleges reported at least one case in the last week, and seven have had five or more cases.
"Just because a college has an outbreak, that doesn’t necessarily mean the institution did something wrong," Ehresmann said.
In fact, she said, most cases have been linked to off-campus activity.
Bars and restaurants have also been a source of several COVID-19 case clusters in recent months. Ehresmann said the state will begin doing increased compliance checks beginning Friday.
"We know that most establishments are following federal, state guidelines," she said. "But it's really hard for them to compete ... when there are other establishments that are not in compliance."
Ehresmann said when restaurants and bars aren't following public health guidelines, that's when MDH is seeing outbreaks.
"For the folks that are following the guidelines and for those establishments, they need us to support them in doing the right thing," Ehresmann said.
When it comes to testing, despite changing federal guidance, Ehresmann said MDH will continue to recommend that anyone who has had contact with a COVID-19 case be tested.
"As long as we have the testing capacity, it is important to test people who have had close contact with another case, even if they don't have symptoms," Ehresmann said. "Every case was once a contact."
Ehresmann also said that even if a person gets a negative test result, they need to continue quarantining the full 14 days after exposure. She said that's because someone can develop the virus later during that incubation period, after initially testing negative.
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported a relatively high number of new COVID-19 cases again Friday, after they said Thursday that numbers may be artificially high for a few days.
MDH says 862 new cases have been identified, bringing the total number in Minnesota since the pandemic began to 73,240.
On Thursday, MDH reported over 1,100 new cases - what would have been a daily record in the state. Health officials said it was partially due to an influx of data from one lab, Valley Medical. MDH said it will be going through thousands of tests from that lab that were all reported at once, spanning about two weeks, and that case numbers could be higher than usual for a few days.
Valley Medical's CEO says they have consistently been getting people their test results directly within 24 hours. He said they had to upgrade their software in order to comply with MDH's data reporting requirements, and that process wasn't finished until now.
MDH also reported four new deaths on Friday, bringing the death toll in the state to 1,810.
As of Friday, 301 people in the state are hospitalized due to COVID-19, and 137 of those are in the ICU.
MDH will hold a briefing call to update the media and public on the latest developments in the state's response to COVID-19 at 2 p.m. Friday.
Thursday, Aug. 27
11 a.m.
A backlog of data from one testing lab skewed Minnesota's reported COVID-19 numbers on Thursday, causing the daily case count to appear artificially high.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 1,158 new cases on Thursday, which would have been a new high for the state. The number of tests in the last 24 hours was reported as 21,144, also abnormally high.
"These higher counts are partially due to a backlog of data belatedly reported by a Minnesota provider and lab, Valley Medical, which has had an inconsistent record of reporting results to the state despite the requirements of the communicable disease reporting rule," MDH said Thursday in a statement.
According to MDH, after health officials followed up with the lab, the company provided almost 19,000 test results at once. MDH has started to process that data, and Thursday's new case count includes 265 cases that were processed from Valley Medical.
However, Valley Medical CEO Dr. Ashwin George told KARE 11 that his lab has been reporting positive cases to MDH every day. George said they didn't have the software in place to report the more than 50 data points required by MDH until now.
George said that Valley Medical has also been getting results directly to the person who got the test within 24 hours.
According to George, Valley Medical converted its physician office lab to a reference lab in order to perform COVID-19 testing, but had to optimize its software in order to report everything MDH requires. He said that process that took a couple of months.
The samples from Valley Medical span two weeks, and the remaining 14,000 test results still need to be processed, according to MDH. That means the case counts coming from MDH for the rest of the week and early next week could be abnormally high.
KARE 11 has reached out to MDH for further comments.
MDH also reported 13 new deaths related to COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total death count to 1,806.
The number of people hospitalized in Minnesota due to coronavirus as of Thursday is 305, with 139 of those people in the ICU.
KARE 11’s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit kare11.com/coronavirus for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about the Midwest specifically, learn more about the symptoms, and see what businesses are open as the state slowly lifts restrictions. Have a question? Text it to us at 763-797-7215. And get the latest coronavirus updates sent right to your inbox every morning. Subscribe to the KARE 11 Sunrise newsletter here. Help local families in need: www.kare11.com/give11.
The state of Minnesota has set up a data portal online at mn.gov/covid19.
