ST PAUL, Minn. — Wednesday, Oct. 28
- MDH reports another day with new cases near 2,000
- Gov. Tim Walz warns Minnesota is at a 'critical' point
- Anoka-Hennepin Schools move to full distance learning, cancel athletics
- 42% increase in Minnesotans getting flu shots at this point in season
- Officials worry 'COVID fatigue' playing into spike in cases
- MDH encourages low-risk activities for Halloween
2 p.m.
MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said there are 71 wedding-related outbreaks in Minnesota, and a person who attended one of them has died from COVID-19.
Malcolm said that everybody needs to adhere to safety regulations not just the majority because that's not enough.
MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann said Minnesotans should do low-risk Halloween activities like carving pumpkins, a scavenger hunt in your own household, virtual costume contest or Halloween movie night.
Regular trick-or-treating or indoor haunted houses are high-risk activities and Minnesotans are discouraged from participating in these activities.
Ehresmann said that getting together with a group of people outside your household is much riskier now than it was one month ago because COVID-19 is in our communities.
Ehresmann said Minnesotans should also avoid crowds and make sure they are social distancing while voting.
11 a.m.
Wednesday marks another day with new COVID-19 cases around the 2,000 mark, according to numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
State health officials say 1,916 cases were confirmed by results from 17,976 PCR and Antigen tests processed by private and state labs. That brings Minnesota's confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic to 139,444.
An additional 19 people have died from coronavirus, bringing state fatalities to 2,387. Of those deaths 1,669, or 70% of them occurred in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
Total hospitalizations from COVID-19 now sit at 9,855, with 2,609 of those patients requiring care in the ICU. MDH says 123,529 people who at one time tested positive for the virus have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation.
People between the ages of 20 and 24 comprise Minnesota's largest group of cases by a significant margin, with 17,336 and one death. Those from 25 to 29 account for 13,555 cases and three fatalities, while 15 to 19-year-olds make up 12,344 cases and zero deaths.
The largest grouping of fatalities involves 85 to 89-year-olds, with 420 deaths from that age group in just 1,873 confirmed cases.
Hennepin County reports the most COVID activity with 34,988 cases and 995 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 14,471 cases and 364 fatalities. Dakota County has registered 10,132 total cases and 138 deaths.
Cook County in northeastern Minnesota reports the least COVID activity with 18 cases, followed by Lake of the Woods with 45.
New hospital admissions have been elevated in the state since early October. Figures posted by MDH from the last couple of days show a slight decline, however numbers from the past week are frequently updated due to data reporting lags.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
11 a.m.
Minnesota continues to trend in the wrong direction in the battle against COVID-19, with state health officials reporting 2,178 new cases of the virus Tuesday, including 11 Antigen tests. That's 600 more than on Monday, and the third highest total reported since the pandemic began.
The Minnesota Department of Health says the state has now recorded 137,536 total cases of the coronavirus, based on 2,724,320 PCR and Antigen tests processed in private and state labs.
An additional 15 people have died from COVID-19, bringing Minnesota fatalities to 2,368. Of those deaths 1,653, or 70% of them, have occurred in assisted living or long-term care settings.
The total number of people treated for coronavirus in Minnesota hospitals is now up to 9,729, with 2,589 of them requiring care in the ICU. MDH says 122,100 people who at one time tested positive for the virus have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation.
Those between the ages of 20 and 24 make up the largest group of Minnesota's COVID cases with 17,147 and a single death, followed by people 25 to 29 with 13,364 cases and three deaths.
The largest grouping of fatalities involves people from 85 to 89, with 413 recorded deaths in just 1,858 cases. That means 22% of those in that demographic who are diagnosed with coronavirus die from it.
Hennepin County has the most COVID activity in the state with 34,657 cases and 944 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 14,342 cases and 362 fatalities. Dakota County has recorded 10,027 cases and 138 deaths.
Cook County in northeastern Minnesota has the least COVID activity with 17 recorded cases since the pandemic began, followed by Kittson County with 49 cases.
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.