Editor's Note: The video above originally aired on Jan. 24.
- MDH reports 43 new deaths on Friday
- New COVID-19 testing site opens in St. Paul
- Twin Cities' omicron surge could peak soon, health experts say
- Ticketed events prepare for new vaccination requirements
- MDH gives guidelines to get at-home COVID tests covered by insurance
Friday, Jan. 28
11 a.m.
On Friday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 43 new COVID-19 deaths in the state.
The newly reported deaths include one person in their 20s in Ramsey County.
Minnesota's cumulative death total is at 11,382 since the pandemic began.
Health officials say 5,336 deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
Hospital bed space continues to be very low across the state.
Officials report the occupancy rate of adult intensive care beds and pediatric ICU beds are at 89% and above across Minnesota. It is above 88% for non-intensive care beds.
According to MDH's latest data available, 1,502 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,289 in non-ICU beds and 213 in the ICU.
MDH reported 9,171,171 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,834,471 people age 5 and older having received at least one shot (73.6%). Of that number 3,590,276 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (68.9%).
Among children 5-11 years old, 188,126 kids have at least one shot (37%) and 150,692 have completed their vaccine series (30%).
On Friday, 14,565 new COVID-19 cases in the state were announced, however health officials note that the number of new cases does not accurately portray the full extent and reality of the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the latest surge being fueled by the more infectious omicron variant, at-home tests are not accounted for in MDH's data.