Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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 then flattening following a late January surge, Minnesota’s COVID-19 vaccination pace continued to slowly rebound on Saturday, as overall pandemic trends remain encouraging.

State health officials on Saturday reported 43,407 vaccine doses administered — the third-greatest daily total so far. Averaged over the past week, the pace of vaccinations ticked upward and is at its greatest point since Feb. 2.

But that reflects data through Thursday — and may not yet account for the effects of the past week’s winter storms in the southern and eastern U.S. The Health Department earlier this week warned the cold snap gripping the nation would delay vaccine shipments to Minnesota, potentially depressing vaccination counts in the short-term.

The department said about half of the 85,000 or so doses expected this week would not arrive in time as expected. Some vaccination appointments at sites around the state have been postponed or rescheduled.

13.4 percent of Minnesotans had received at least one dose

 as of the latest update, with about 5.7 percent completely vaccinated. About 40.5 percent of Minnesotans 65 and older have received at least one shot.

The total number of vaccine doses administered now stands at 1,059,617. 

State public health leaders have emphasized over the past weeks that the relatively low flow of vaccine supplies from the federal government is the main problem holding back the pace of vaccinations. 

While recent vaccination numbers are trending upward, Minnesota at the current pace would only be able to vaccinate about 80 percent of adults by sometime in September. Getting it done by summer would require the state to administer 40,000 to 50,000 shots per day, or more.

Extreme winter weather creates backlog of 6 million vaccine doses

Minnesota is currently ranked 20th among states in 

, according to data collected by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Vaccination questions aside, Minnesota’s COVID-19 numbers show the state on a steady, positive path, with key pandemic metrics continuing to improve. Known, active cases ticked above 7,000, but the overall trend is solid, hovering around late September levels.

The seven-day hospital admissions trend for people with COVID-19 has also receded to September levels. 

There were 282 people with COVID-19 in Minnesota hospitals as of Thursday. It was a second consecutive day of hospitalizations below 300, the first time that’s happened since the fall; 59 people needed intensive care.

Tracking cases in Minnesota

From around the state

From MPR News

Eleven reported deaths on Saturday raised Minnesota’s toll to 6,423. Among those who’ve died, about 63 percent had been living in long-term care or assisted living facilities; most had underlying health problems.

The seven-day rolling average for deaths is below eight deaths per day, the lowest since September.

The state’s recorded 478,157 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including 884 reported Saturday. About 97 percent of Minnesotans known to be infected with COVID-19 in the pandemic have recovered to the point they no longer need to be isolated.

The trends offer reasons to feel encouraged, enough so that Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday proclaimed “we’re on our way to ending the pandemic” as he 

, starting Monday. “We’re beating this thing.”

State health officials continue to monitor new virus strains circulating in the United States, which may be more contagious. Walz and other officials have warned that they could lead to an increase in cases.

Kris Ehresmann, the state’s infectious disease director, reaffirmed those concerns on Tuesday, noting that Minnesota’s now confirmed 40 cases of the U.K. strain here. “We want to make sure we’re not giving a foothold to these variants.”

Why scientists are very worried

On how new variants could change the pandemic's trajectory

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota,

 that the variants are very concerning and it’s unclear whether they evade immunity from vaccination or natural protection.

People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the state’s largest number of confirmed cases  — more than 90,000 since the pandemic began, including more than 47,000 among people ages 20 to 24.

The number of high school-age youth confirmed with the disease has also grown, with more than 37,000 total cases among those ages 15 to 19 since the pandemic began. 

Although less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts worry youth and young adults will spread it unknowingly to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations. 

People can have the coronavirus and spread COVID-19 when they don’t have symptoms. 

New year, new COVID-19 regulations in MN

Understanding COVID-19 case rates over time

Regionally, most parts of Minnesota are down significantly from the late November, early December spike as well as a January blip.

There has been an uptick in cases in northwestern Minnesota recently, though it’s unclear why just yet. 

Here’s what to do

If you test positive for the coronavirus this winter

Caseloads still heaviest among people of color

In Minnesota and across the country, COVID-19 has hit 

communities of color disproportionately hard

 in both cases and deaths. That’s been especially true for

Even as new case counts continue to fall from their late November, early December peaks, the data shows Latino people continue to be hit hard.

How COVID is disproportionately hitting Minnesota’s Latino community

, together with deeply rooted health and economic disparities, have hampered efforts to boost testing among communities of color, officials say, especially among unauthorized immigrants who fear their personal information may be used to deport them.

Last week, Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm acknowledged the need to ensure that vaccination opportunities be spread equitably.

Malcolm said the state will release data soon regarding vaccinations, race and ethnicity. Officials say they’re trying to improve the quality of data. Per state law, it's been shared voluntarily, and so may be inconsistent. 

Everything you need to know about getting COVID shots in MN

States ramp up COVID vaccinations as supply grows

Data in these graphs are based on the Minnesota Department of Health's cumulative totals released at 11 a.m. daily. You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at the 

Full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic

Minneapolis lifts bar counter restrictions

The city of Minneapolis has lifted its ban on bar counter seating just in time for the weekend.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the decision was based on public health data, showing a decrease in COVID-19 cases in the city.

Bars in the city must still require reservations, social distancing and no more than two customers can be seated together at a bar counter.

Establishments also have to lower music volume to keep patrons from talking loudly and sitting too close together.

Last week, citing vaccine progress in the state, Gov. Tim Walz loosened some pandemic-related regulations that allow bars to be open one hour longer, until 11 p.m.

COVID drives home schooling surge as public school enrollment drops:

The COVID-19 crisis is driving dramatic changes in Minnesota public school enrollments, including a drop of some 17,000 students in the past year, with families delaying kindergarten and choosing options outside the public system, the state Education Department says.

Collaboration between White Earth Nation, Mahnomen Co. leads to one of highest vaccination rates in MN:

 Since Minnesota began distributing coronavirus vaccines late last year, Mahnomen County in northwestern Minnesota has consistently led the pack.

Michael Osterholm on how new COVID variants could change the pandemic's trajectory:

 As vaccinations continue, new variants of the virus are spreading. Scientists worry that the vaccine could be less effective against these mutations and that infection rates might rise again if one of these variants becomes the dominant strain.

New vaccine tool will tell Minnesotans when they can get COVID-19 shots:

 The tool will alert Minnesotans of their eligibility, connect them to resources to schedule an appointment and provide information on nearby vaccination opportunities. Minnesotans will still have to make their own appointment to get a shot through a vaccine provider.

Minnesota News

Health

NewsPartners

COVID-19

MPR News Staff

Author

Minnesota’s COVID-19 numbers remain encouraging. The vaccination pace has slowly improved in recent days, but the recent severe winter weather across the country may change that.

Paul Middlestaedt for MPR News file

Newly reported COVID-19 vaccine doses in Minnesota

David H. Montgomery | MPR News

Active, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota

Graph of new ICU and non-ICU COVID-19 hospitalizations

New COVID-19 related deaths reported in Minnesota each day

New Minnesota COVID-19 cases by age, adjusted for population

Feb. 20 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccinations back on the upswing, for now

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