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Minnesota’s newest COVID-19 data shows active case counts continuing to retreat following a spring wave. While the vaccination pace remains stuck at a relative crawl, there are signs the recent free-fall has ended.

More than 60 percent of state residents 16 and older have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But with the pace only inching forward now, it’ll take longer to reach 70 percent — the threshold Gov. Tim Walz linked to ending the statewide mask mandate before July 1. 

A few weeks ago, the state was on pace to hit the 70 percent vaccination mark in mid-May; now it's pushed back beyond mid-June, assuming the current rate holds. 

What to know about MN's COVID restriction rollback

The best news in Wednesday’s Health Department data: There’s no doubt that Minnesota this week will pass a milestone with 50 percent of its 16-and-older population fully vaccinated. 

How to get a COVID-19 shot in Minnesota

Analysis of COVID-19 data in Minnesota

COVID-19 in Minnesota

The count of known, active COVID-19 cases came in at 9,831— down below 10,000 for the first time in nearly two months and far below its most recent high of about 20,000 in mid-April.

Wednesday’s report showed 471 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Minnesota; 131 needed intensive care. Both figures continue to trend down from their recent peaks. New hospital admissions have dropped significantly.

Fifteen newly reported deaths put Minnesota’s pandemic toll at 7,255. Among those who have died, about 60 percent had been living in long-term care or assisted-living facilities; most had underlying health problems.

The state has recorded 590,436 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including the 919 posted Wednesday. About 97 percent of Minnesotans known to be infected with COVID-19 in the pandemic have recovered to the point where they no longer need to isolate.

Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in better shape than they were in late November and early December. Case counts had crept up across the state during April, but the trend appears to have peaked.

Officials continue to implore Minnesotans to keep their guard up during proms, graduations and other spring events, noting that more contagious COVID-19 variants are driving new cases across the state.

While the overall trends are solid, officials are increasingly concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in younger people. They’ve been urging 

more testing of middle and high school students

 and weekly testing for athletes, coaches, referees and other youth sports participants. 

People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the state’s largest number of confirmed cases — more than 109,000 since the pandemic began. 

The number of high school-age youth confirmed with the disease has also grown, with more than 48,000 15-to-19-year-olds known to be infected during the pandemic. 

Although young people are less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts worry they will spread it unknowingly to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations. Those with the COVID-19 virus can spread it when they don’t have symptoms.

Schools say they stay open

More than 2.6 million residents 16 and older now have at least one vaccine dose; nearly 2.2 million have completed their vaccinations as of Wednesday’s update. 

That works out to nearly half the 16-and-older population completely vaccinated and more than 60 percent with at least one shot, including about 88 percent of those 65 and older. 

While the vaccination pace has plummeted in recent weeks, the seven-day shot trend is up the past few days.

Officials acknowledge the state must do more to connect unvaccinated adults to shots.

The work to reach out to people who haven’t yet been vaccinated “will be a bit harder” than when Minnesotans were lining up for the shots, state infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said last week.

“We recognize successes are going to be hard to come by in this phase,” she said. “Anytime we move up by a percentage point [in people vaccinated], that’s a big deal.”

It’s not for lack of supply: Walz said last week that the federal government stands ready to ship more vaccine to Minnesota. Eligible Minnesotans can now walk in for a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment at the state’s 

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 

How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Minnesota

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Minnesota will pass a milestone this week with more than half its 16-and-older population fully vaccinated. After slowing to a relative crawl, the state’s vaccination pace is showing signs of a possible rebound. Overall, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are receding.

Derek Montgomery for MPR News file

Graph showing when Minnesota is on target to vaccinated 70% of adults

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

Newly reported COVID-19 vaccine doses in Minnesota

Graph projecting when most Minnesotans will get vaccinated

May 12 COVID-19 update: Active cases fall; nearly 2.2M completely vaccinated

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