Wednesday, July 1
2:45 p.m.
In an afternoon press conference, Gov. Tim Walz said the state of Minnesota continues to evaluate whether to issue a mask mandate, but no decision has been made.
"We saw this become unnecessarily political," Walz said about masks. However, the governor noted some opinions and actions are shifting among national leaders, pointing out that Vice President Mike Pence wore a mask on a recent visit to Arizona, after the vice president did not wear a mask on a visit to Minnesota in April.
2 p.m.
Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said that the current testing positivity rate of COVID-19 in the state is 3.7%, which is up from last week but still a good rate.
Malcolm said that the four deaths that occurred in the last 24 hours all were in congregate living settings.
Malcolm touched on the upcoming holiday weekend recommending people to practice social distancing, celebrate with people from your own household and to gather outdoors rather than indoors.
People between the ages of 20 and 29 make up the largest group of confirmed cases with 7,821 testing positive. Health officials have referred to this group as the most social in Minnesota, and have urged them to take precautions when going out to bars and gathering spots.
"You are not invincible and neither are your loved ones," Malcolm said specifically addressing young people and the growing cases amongst those in their 20s.
Doctor Ruth Lynfield said that their department has confirmed that 13 children have the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C). Eleven of the cases have been linked to COVID-19. Eight of the cases have needed the ICU. There have been no deaths related to the syndrome so far. The average age of the patients is 5.
Doctor John Hick from the Hennepin County Medical Center said that the shortage for personal protective equipment continues but it is improving.
Hick said the state is working on alternate care sites in hopes to ease the pressure of hospital capacity in rural areas.
11 a.m.
Numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Health show a continuing downward trend in COVID-19 related hospitalizations, and a return to single-day deaths in the single digits.
Health officials say 426 Minnesotans tested positive for the coronavirus over the past 24-hour collection period, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 36,716 since the onset of the pandemic. Private labs processed an additional 11,886 tests, bringing the total to 617,107.
Four Minnesotans died from COVID-19 in the last day, which puts the total fatalities at 1,445. Of those deaths 1,135, or 78%, occurred in long-term or assisted living care facilities.
Hospitalizations continue on their downward trend with 260 people currently requiring in-patient treatment. Of those patients, 125 have symptoms serious enough to require treatment in the ICU.
MDH says 31,947 people who at one time tested positive for the coronavirus have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation.
People between the ages of 20 and 29 make up the largest group of confirmed cases with 7,821 testing positive. Health officials have referred to this group as the most social in Minnesota, and have urged them to take precautions when going out to bars and gathering spots. Those between 30 and 39 account for 7,201 cases. People between 80 and 89 make up just 1,564 cases, but 493 of the state's total fatalities.
Tuesday, June 30
- Minnesota hits capacity to test 20,000 per day for COVID-19
- COVID-19 deaths hit double digits for first time in over a week
- Hospitalizations due to coronavirus lowest in two months
11 a.m.
New numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reflect the trend of fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations, and a return to single-day deaths in the single digits.
Health officials say 444 Minnesotans tested positive for the coronavirus over the past 24-hour collection period, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 36,303 since the onset of the pandemic. Private labs processed an additional 12,705 tests, bringing the total to 605,316.
In the past day 6 Minnesotans died from complications of COVID-19, pushing fatalities to 1,441. Of those deaths 1,131, or 78%, occurred in long-term or assisted living care facilities.
Hospitalizations continue on their downward trend with 270 people currently requiring in-patient treatment. Of those patients, 136 have symptoms serious enough to require treatment in the ICU.
MDH says 31,601 people who at one time tested positive for the coronavirus have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation.
People between the ages of 20 and 29 make up the largest group of confirmed cases with 7,675 testing positive. Health officials have referred to this group as the most social in Minnesota, and have urged them to take precautions when going out to bars and gathering spots. Those between 30 and 39 account for 7,145 cases. People between 80 and 89 make up just 1,559 cases, but 492 of the state's total fatalities.
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