MINNEAPOLIS — Editor's Note: The report above on growing concerns about the omicron variant originally aired during KARE 11 Sunrise on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.
- MDH reports 52 new deaths, 3,378 COVID-19 cases
- 1,415 coronavirus patients in MN hospital beds
- MDH believes omicron variant is dominant strain in state
Thursday, Dec. 23
11 a.m.
As concerns around the omicron variant grow, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 52 new COVID deaths and 3,378 new cases in the state on Thursday.
The new fatalities reported include one person in their 20s in Anoka County and another in their 30s in Ramsey County.
Minnesota's cumulative death total is at 10,306 since the pandemic began.
Health officials say 5,125 deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
The cumulative total COVID cases in the state is now at 996,224 since the start of the pandemic.
According to MDH's latest data available, 1,415 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,073 in non-ICU beds and 342 in the ICU.
ICU bed space continues to be low across the state.
There is one staffed pediatric ICU beds available in the central portion of the state, and eight beds open in the metro.
MDH reported 8,564,704 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,731,976 people age 5 and older having received at least one shot (71.6%). Of that number 3,494,441 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (67.1%).
Among children 5-11 years old, the most recent age group to get the green light for COVID vaccines, 151,780 kids have at least one shot (30%) and 107,029 have completed their vaccine series (21%).
The state vaccine dashboard says of the total doses that have been administered in Minnesota, 59.4% are Pfizer, 36.7% are Moderna and 3.8% are Johnson & Johnson.
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Wednesday, Dec. 22
3 p.m.
Officials with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said they believe the omicron variant of COVID-19 is likely the dominant strain spreading in the state of Minnesota.
It follows a CDC announcement earlier in the week that omicron had become the dominant strain in the U.S., making up an estimated 73% of current cases.
"This aligns with evidence we’ve seen that Omicron spreads much easier than earlier variants," MDH officials said in a news release. "The quick rise of the Omicron variant underscores the importance of everyone taking steps to slow its spread so we don’t overwhelm our already stressed health care system."
MDH officials encouraged Minnesotans to take steps to protect themselves and others during holiday gatherings, regardless of vaccination status.
11 a.m.
On Wednesday, MDH officials reported 57 new deaths from COVID-19 and 2,807 new cases in the state.
The new fatalities reported include one person in their 30s from Anoka County. Minnesota's cumulative death total has reached 10,254 since the pandemic began.
Health officials say 5,113 of those deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
The cumulative total of COVID cases in the state is now at 992,851 since MDH began gathering statistics.
According to the latest data available, 1,432 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,085 in non-ICU beds and 347 in the ICU.
ICU bed space continues to an issue across the state. There are currently no staffed pediatric ICU beds available in the central portion of the state, and just four beds open in the metro. Adult ICU beds are also scarce, with zero in the northwestern region and just one in all of northeastern Minnesota. There are currently four open adult ICU beds in the Twin Cities hospital system.
MDH reported 8,533,113 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,728,896 people age 5 and older having received at least one shot (71.5%). Of that number 3,494,441 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (67.0%).
Among children 5-11 years old, the most recent age group to get the green light for COVID vaccines, 150,509 kids have at least one shot (30%) and 104,290 have completed their vaccine series (20%).
The state vaccine dashboard says of the total doses that have been administered in Minnesota, 59.4% are Pfizer, 36.7% are Moderna and 3.8% are Johnson & Johnson.
Tuesday, Dec. 21
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced Tuesday that the number of COVID-19 cases in the state increased by 7,396 over the weekend.
MDH no longer shares data on weekends, so numbers released on Tuesdays reflect reports from 4 a.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday.
The cumulative total cases (including reinfections) in Minnesota is now at 990,047 since the start of the pandemic.
Forty-one more people have died from the virus, bringing the cumulative COVID-19 death total to 10,197. The new fatalities reported include three people in their 40s from Anoka, Isanti and Scott Counties.
Health officials say 5,107 of those deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
Also on Tuesday, officials announced Gov. Tim Walz, his wife and his son tested positive for COVID-19.
The governor, who is vaccinated, says he does not have any symptoms and will be quarantined while working from home.
According to MDH's latest data available, 1,470 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,115 in non-ICU beds and 355 in the ICU.
ICU bed space continues to be low across the state. There are no staffed pediatric ICU beds available in the central portion of the state, and just five beds open in the metro.
Total hospitalizations since the arrival of COVID have risen to 49,502.
MDH says 8,505,668 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,725,062 people age 5 and older having received at least one shot (71.5%). Of that number 3,490,578 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (67.0%).
Among children 5-11 years old, 149,035 kids have at least one shot (29%) and 102,324 have completed their vaccine series (20%).
The state vaccine dashboard says of the total doses that have been administered in Minnesota, 59.4% are Pfizer, 36.7% are Moderna and 3.8% are Johnson & Johnson.
Monday, Dec. 20
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health reported dozens of new deaths and thousands of new COVID-19 cases on Monday morning.
According to MDH, the state has added 45 new coronavirus-related deaths and 3,397 new positive cases on Monday.
Of the new deaths reported, everyone who died was between the ages of 45 and 94 and six deaths were in long-term care facilities.
The MDH says one death occurred in November, while the other 44 deaths happened this month.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Minnesota has reported 10,156 COVID-19-releated deaths and 982,664 total positive cases, including about 12,000 reinfections.
According to MDH's latest data available, 1,485 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,119 in non-ICU beds and 366 in the ICU.
Since the COVID-19 vaccine rollout began, MDH has reported 8,439,859 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,716,459 people age 5 and older having received at least one shot (71.3%). Of that number, 3,482,276 people have completed their COVID vaccine series, which does not include the booster shot, and are considered completely vaccinated (66.8%).
In children ages 5 through 11, 97,566 kids have completed their vaccine series (19%), and 145,489 received at least one dose (29%).
In Minnesota, Pfizer continues to be the most administered vaccine, with 5,010,643 doses administered, accounting for 56.4% of all doses in the state, followed by Moderna's 3,101,120 doses, which accounts for 36.7%. Only 326,134 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses have been given, accounting for 3.9% of all COVID doses administered in the state.