ST PAUL, Minn. —
- MDH reports 54 new COVID deaths and 3,854 new cases
- 1,554 are being treated for COVID in hospitals
- Gov. Walz announces emergency federal medical teams extension
Friday, Dec. 17
11 a.m.
Thousands of new cases and dozens of new COVID-19 deaths were reported by the Minnesota Department of Health Friday.
According to MDH, 3,854 more people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 979,283.
On Friday, MDH officials reported 54 new COVID deaths.
Minnesota's cumulative death total is at 10,111 since the pandemic began.
Health officials say 5,094 deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
According to MDH's latest data available, 1,554 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,180 in non-ICU beds and 374 in the ICU.
MDH reported 8,407,069 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,712,276 people age 5 and older having received at least one shot (71.2%). Of that number 3,477,940 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (66.7%).
Among children 5-11 years old, the most recent age group to get the green light for COVID vaccines, 143,746 kids have at least one shot (28%) and 94,944 have completed their vaccine series (19%).
The state vaccine dashboard says of the total doses that have been administered in Minnesota, 59.4% are Pfizer, 36.7% are Moderna and 3.9% are Johnson & Johnson.
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Thursday, Dec. 16
3:15 p.m.
Gov. Tim Walz announced the the federal government's emergency staffing support has been extended, and will remain in Minnesota through January 2022.
The additional support, which was initially called for a 30-day deployment back in November, will continue to help at HCMC and St. Cloud Hospital.
“We are at a critical moment in our pandemic response, and we are using every resource available to relive the pressure on our overworked health care personnel and to make sure patients receive the treatment they need and deserve,” said Gov. Walz. “I am astounded by the resiliency of our doctors, nurses, and hospital staff, and my administration is working every day to help make their jobs easier. That’s why I’m grateful to President Biden and his administration for accepting our urgent request for more staffing support in our hospitals.”
According to MDH's latest data available, 1,583 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,214 in non-ICU beds and 369 in the ICU.
2 p.m.
State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and other health care leaders held a news conference at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis Thursday afternoon to talk about the one-year anniversary of COVID vaccinations in Minnesota.
All of the health leaders spoke about the hard work that has been done since the vaccinations became available and the need for everyone to get vaccinated if they want to see the pandemic end soon.
"We would love to be done with this... but it is not done with us yet," said Commissioner Malcolm.
11 a.m.
On Thursday, MDH officials reported 39 new COVID deaths and 3,805 new cases in the state.
The new fatalities reported include four people in their 30s across the state.
Minnesota's cumulative death total is at 10,057 since the pandemic began.
Health officials say 5,078 deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
The cumulative total COVID cases in the state is now at 975,447 since the start of the pandemic.
According to MDH's latest data available, 1,583 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,214 in non-ICU beds and 369 in the ICU.
MDH reported 8,369,482 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,707,937 people age 5 and older having received at least one shot (71.1%). Of that number 3,471,539 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (66.6%).
Among children 5-11 years old, the most recent age group to get the green light for COVID vaccines, 142,119 kids have at least one shot (28%) and 90,914 have completed their vaccine series (18%).
The state vaccine dashboard says of the total doses that have been administered in Minnesota, 59.3% are Pfizer, 36.7% are Moderna and 3.9% are Johnson & Johnson.
Wednesday, Dec. 15
11 a.m.
On Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 54 new COVID deaths in the state, which crosses a grim milestone of 10,000 deaths.
That brings the cumulative COVID-19 death total to 10,018 since the pandemic began.
Included among the new deaths is a victim in their early 40s from Sherburne County.
According to MDH, 2,231 more people have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 971,667.
COVID-19 hospitalizations remain high in Minnesota, with 1,645 people currently hospitalized.
ICU bed space continues to be low across the state.
There is just 17 staffed adult ICU beds available across the state, with just one available in the metro.
Minnesota has administered 8,337,504 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As of Dec. 13, MDH says 3,704,899 Minnesotans ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, or 71.1% of that population.
Of those 5 and older, 3,466,342 people have completed their vaccine, or 66.5% of those eligible.
Among children 5-11 years old, the most recent age group to get the green light for COVID vaccines, 140,591 kids have at least one shot (28%) and 86,822 have completed their vaccine series (17%).
The state vaccine dashboard says of the total doses that have been administered in Minnesota, 59.3% are Pfizer, 36.8% are Moderna and 3.9% are Johnson & Johnson.
Tuesday, Dec. 14
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced Tuesday that the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has increased by 9,042 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 969,450 since the start of the pandemic.
Forty-six additional people have died, bringing the cumulative COVID-19 death total to 9,964 since the pandemic began.
The new fatalities reported include four people in their 30s in Chisago, Goodhue, Ramsey and Todd Counties.
Health officials say 5,056 deaths have taken place in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
According to MDH's latest data available, 1,636 people are being treated for COVID in hospitals around the state, with 1,284 in non-ICU beds and 352 in the ICU.
Total hospitalizations since the arrival of COVID have risen to 48,362.
MDH says 8,303,611 total doses of vaccine have been administered in the state, with 3,701,044 people age 5 and older having received at least one shot (71.0%). Of that number 3,459,000 people have completed their COVID series and are considered completely vaccinated (66.4%).
ICU bed space continues to be low across the state.
There is just one pediatric ICU bed available in the central portion of the state, and eight beds open in the metro.
Among children 5-11 years old, the most recent age group to get the green light for COVID vaccines, 138,964 kids have at least one shot (27%) and 81,367 have completed their vaccine series (16%).
The state vaccine dashboard says of the total doses that have been administered in Minnesota, 59.3% are Pfizer, 36.8% are Moderna and 3.9% are Johnson & Johnson.
Monday, Dec. 13
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported thousands of new COVID-19 cases and dozens of deaths Monday, as the state approaches 10,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
According to MDH, 3,655 new cases were added to the state's cumulative case total of 949,046, while 46 more Minnesotans died from the disease, bringing the state's total number of deaths to 9,918.
One of those deaths was reportedly a person in their 20s from Becker County, and 11 were living in a long-term care facility or in assisted living.
MDH's latest data indicates most of the hospitals throughout the state lack staffed adult ICU beds, with 84% at full capacity. Only seven staffed ICU beds remain available for children.
The data comes as health care providers released an ad Sunday, pleading with people to people to get vaccinated and to get their booster shots, wear a mask even if you're vaccinated, socially distance, get a COVID test if you're feeling sick, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. The ad goes on to say that they are heartbroken and overwhelmed as emergency departments and ICUs statewide fill to capacity.
But even as new cases rise, MDH reports a majority of Minnesotans are getting their vaccines. Officials say 70.8% of those 5 years old and older have at least one shot, and 66% are considered to be fully vaccinated.
The state vaccine dashboard says of the total doses that have been administered in Minnesota, 59.4% are Pfizer, 36% are Moderna and 4.6% are Johnson & Johnson.
