ST PAUL, Minn — Monday, Sept. 14
- 233 hospitalized, fewest since July 10
- Parents make final plea to Gov. Walz to allow high school fall sports
- Dakotas lead U.S. in COVID case growth as both reject mask mandates
- Oxford, AstraZeneca to resume coronavirus vaccine trial
- MDH has a website for resources for families and those in need of child care.
2 p.m.
In their semi-regular news briefing on Monday, officials with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) discussed guidance for school attendance and staying home while sick as the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing into the new school year.
MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann emphasized the need for people of all ages to stay home when they're sick, and especially if they've been exposed to someone who's tested positive for COVID-19. MDH has posted a "decision tree" providing guidance for schools and child care programs.
"We need all parents and families to take this guidance seriously," Ehresmann said.
The guidance is presented in a flow chart, providing suggestions when people have just one symptom for COVID-19, or multiple symptoms, or if they've been exposed to someone who's tested positive.
"When precautions are taken, we can limit transmission," said Susan Klammer, MDH's K-12 school and child care leader.
"Typical cold symptoms are not typical cold symptoms this season, it's certainly possible they could be COVID," said Dr. Andrea Singh, Pediatrics Chair at Park Nicollet, who helped develop the guidance.
Elsewhere, Ehresmann discussed COVID-19 activity in higher education institutions, noting that there are three universities that have reported more than 100 cases in the past two weeks, including Minnesota State University-Mankato, Winona State University and Concordia College in Moorhead.
Ehresmann said MDH works with each institution to develop plans for reducing campus activities, reducing visitors, increasing testing and other strategies. She added that numbers are trending down in Mankato as a result of these measure.
Ehresmann also said it's important to point out that just because these cases involve college students, it doesn't necessarily mean that the transmission happened on campus.
On another subject, Ehresmann confirmed MDH is working with officials at a federal prison in Waseca, where more than 100 cases have been reported in recent days. Ehresmann said the outbreak appears to have been introduced from inmates transported to the facility from another state, who were infectious at the time they were transported. Ehresmann said there is no testing prior to transporting the inmates, who are under federal jurisdiction.
"It has resulted in some challenges," Ehresmann said.
11 a.m.
Reported COVID-19 hospitalizations are lower than they've been since early July, according to new numbers released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
Currently, 233 people are being treated for the virus in Minnesota hospitals, 135 of them with symptoms serious enough to require care in the ICU. That's the lowest total number since July 10, when MDH reported 227 hospitalizations.
In total, 6,954 people have required in-patient care since the onset of the pandemic.
Health care officials say 643 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in the past day, based on 17,152 tests completed in private and state labs. MDH says 78,238 people who at one time tested positive for the virus have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation.
Three more Minnesotans have died of COVID-19, pushing Minnesota's fatalities to 1,922. Of those deaths 1,398, or 73% occurred in assisted living or long-term care facilities.
People between the ages of 20 and 24 account for the state's largest group of cases with 11,558 and one fatality, followed by those 25 to 29 with 8,451 and three deaths. People between ages 15 and 19 comprise 7,863 cases and zero deaths.
The largest group of fatalities involves people between 85 and 89, who account for 327 deaths but just 1,161 cases. That means 28% of people in this age group who were diagnosed with COVID-19 has died from it.
Hennepin County has the most reported coronavirus activity with 24,944 cases and 907 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 10,111 cases and 313 fatalities. Dakota County has registered 6,836 cases and 120 deaths.
Cook County has the least COVID-19 activity with just six confirmed cases and no deaths.
Sunday, Sept. 13
11 a.m.
New numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reflect nearly 750 new cases of COVID-19 and another day of double-digit deaths caused by the virus.
MDH announced 741 newly confirmed cases involving Minnesotans in the past 24-hour reporting period, based on 21,489 tests reported from private and state labs. The new cases bring the state total to 84,311 since the pandemic began.
Thirteen additional people have died of coronavirus, bringing Minnesota's total fatalities to 1,919. Of that number 1,398, or 73% of them occurred in long-term or assisted living settings.
Currently 241 people are being treated for the virus in hospitals across Minnesota, 136 of them in ICU. That continues a recent trend of hospitalizations well below 300.
Health officials say 77,461 people who at one time tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation.
Minnesotans between the ages of 20 and 24 continue to make up the largest group of cases in the state with 11,469 and one death, followed by those between 25 and 29 with 8.384 cases and three deaths. People between 15 and 19 comprise 7,783 cases but no deaths.
The largest group of fatalities involves those between the ages of 85 and 89, with 327 deaths in just 1,149 cases diagnosed.
Hennepin has the most COVID-19 of any county with 24,788 cases and 906 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 10,060 cases and 313 deaths. Dakota County reports 6,767 cases and 120 deaths.
Cook County has the least coronavirus activity in the state, with just six confirmed cases and non fatalities.
Saturday Sept. 12
2 p.m.
Wisconsin's Department of Health Services reported 1,353 new cases Saturday, marking the fourth day in a week the total number of confirmed cases eclipsed 1,300. The total number of confirmed cases statewide is now at 87,603 since the pandemic started.
Health officials announced 12 new deaths on Saturday, bringing the total number of fatalities statewide to 1,209. The total number of fatalities is approximately 1.4% of those testing positive for the virus.
Wisconsin health officials say a total of 6,309 people have been hospitalized from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, about 7.2% 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, 16% are between 30 and 39, 14% are between 40 and 49, and 14% are 50 to 59. An estimated 11% are between 10 and 19, and 9% are between 60 and 69.
As of Saturday, Milwaukee County reported the largest number of cases with 25,440 and 513 deaths. Dane County has reported 7,389 cases and 41 deaths, Brown County has reported 6,366 and 58 deaths, and Waukesha County has reported 6,053 cases and 85 deaths.
A more detailed breakdown of cases by county can be found on the DHS website.
11 a.m.
Minnesota heath officials reported 929 positive COVID-19 tests and nine additional deaths on Saturday.
The newly reported positive cases bring the statewide to 83,588. Health officials said 9,077 health care workers have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began.
More than 76,600 people were marked as no longer needing isolation.
Minnesota’s death toll from the coronavirus was 1,906 on Saturday. Officials report that 1,389 of deaths have been among residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities.
A total of 6,899 people have required hospitalization. Of those, 247 remain in those facilities, with 140 in intensive care.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
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.
