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Minnesota’s most recent COVID-19 data offers more evidence of a pandemic in retreat. Known, active cases remain below 2,000 and at their lowest point since April 2020. Hospitalizations and ICU needs are less than half of what they were a month ago.

Overall, Minnesota is averaging fewer than four new daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people now, compared to a peak of nearly 130 in November. Tuesday’s report showed only 125 new cases, a count that hasn’t been that low since the earliest days of the pandemic.

Analysis of COVID-19 data in Minnesota

How to get a COVID-19 shot in Minnesota

COVID-19 in Minnesota

Hospitalizations, active cases retreating

State public health leaders worried throughout the pandemic that Minnesota hospitals would be overwhelmed by a crush of COVID-19 patients needing treatment or an ICU bed. Those worries have all but abated in recent weeks. 

The Health Department reported 201 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Minnesota; 57 in intensive care. Both figures continue to trend down from their spring peaks. In late April, hospitalizations were approaching 700 people, with more than 200 in ICUs.

Average daily hospital admissions have fallen by more than half over the past month and are trending at levels not seen since July.

The count of known, active COVID-19 cases came in at 1,685— staying below 2,000 for two consecutive days, the first time that’s happened since April 2020. A month ago, Minnesota had more than 13,000 known, active cases. At one point in November, it topped 50,000.

The state’s averaged 231 new cases a day over the past seven reporting days. Five weeks ago, that count topped 1,500 a day. 

Two newly reported deaths on Tuesday put Minnesota’s pandemic toll at 7,469. Among those who have died, about 59 percent had been living in long-term care or assisted-living facilities; most had underlying health problems.

The state’s recorded 603,005 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including the 125 posted Tuesday.

About 98 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 now they are low and plunging in every age group and every region.

People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the state’s largest number of confirmed cases — more than 111,000 since the pandemic began.

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

About teenagers and the COVID-19 vaccine in MN

Unvaccinated kids and updated mask guidance

The vaccination pace has been mostly in free-fall since peaking in April and has slowed to a relative trickle. 

Nearly 2.9 million residents 16 and older now have at least one vaccine dose. More than 2.6 million have completed their vaccinations. That works out to about 60.1 percent of the 16-and-older population completely vaccinated and 65.3 percent with at least one shot.

Those percentages are rising very slowly now, making it very unlikely that the state will reach 70 percent of adults with at least one shot by July 1. 

Officials noted recently that the 70-percent goal has been reached already in the Twin Cities metropolitan area but that outside the region, it’s only about 57 percent. 

Minnesota’s seen notable growth in the number of children ages 12 to 15 getting vaccinated since mid-May, when 

federal authorities approved the Pfizer vaccine for use at those ages

Health Department data shows more than 87,000 12-to-15-year-olds with at least one dose. That’s about 30 percent of that population already with at least one shot. The pace, though, has collapsed following an early surge.

Minnesota rolls out free beer to cheer the vaccinated

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

Tracking the vaccination progress in the U.S.

Full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic

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Tuesday’s data offers more evidence of a pandemic receding quickly. Known, active cases remain below 2,000 and at their lowest point since April 2020. Hospitalizations and ICU needs are less than half of what they were a month ago.

Derek Montgomery for MPR News

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

David H. Montgomery | MPR News

Active, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota

New COVID-19 related deaths reported in Minnesota each day

Newly reported COVID-19 vaccine doses in Minnesota

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

Graph showing total COVID-19 vaccinations by age

June 8 update on COVID-19 in MN: Hospitalizations, ICU needs, active cases fall

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