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Minnesota is closing in on the milestone of 3 million residents with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Sunday's update from state health officials puts the total at 2,996,575; it may cross the 3 million mark in Monday's update.

But that’s still fewer than two-thirds of Minnesotans 16 and older with at least one dose. And the vaccination pace continues to crawl, with the state is showing some big regional divides in vaccination rates.

Meanwhile Sunday’s update continued to show some of Minnesota’s key disease indicators at or near their lowest levels since the earliest months of the pandemic. 

The state is averaging about 167 new COVID-19 cases a day over the past week — the lowest that average has been since late April 2020. 

Analysis of COVID-19 data in Minnesota

How to get a COVID-19 shot in Minnesota

COVID-19 in Minnesota

New, active cases trend at April 2020 lows 

Overall, the basic numbers around the pandemic remain encouraging.

The state’s current average of 167 new cases a day over the past seven reporting days compares to 1,500 a day in early May, and more than 2,400 a day in April.

Sunday’s count of known, active COVID-19 cases came in at 1,557, hovering at April 2020 levels. Minnesota had more than 15,000 such cases on May 1. At one point in November, it topped 50,000.

The latest Health Department data showed 184 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Minnesota, with 49 in intensive care as of Friday. Both figures continue to slide from their spring peaks. In late April, hospitalizations were approaching 700 people, with more than 200 in ICUs.

ICU admissions are trending at their lowest levels since near the start of the pandemic.

Nine newly reported deaths on Sunday pushed Minnesota’s pandemic toll to 7,512. 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 has recorded 603,760 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including the 173 posted Sunday.

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. 

Case counts had crept up across the state during April following a massive spike in late November and early December. Now, though, the numbers are low and falling in every age group and 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

More than 2.9 million residents 16 and older now have at least one vaccine dose. More than 2.7 million are completely vaccinated. That works out to about 61.2 percent completely vaccinated and 65.8 percent with at least one shot, including 90 percent of people 65 and older. 

The vaccination pace, however, has been largely in free fall since peaking in April. While there’s some evidence that the pace is bottoming out, it still looks like it will be late July before the state reaches 70 percent of adults with at least one shot. 

Officials recently noted that more than 70 percent of the 16-and-older population in the Twin Cities metropolitan area had received at least one vaccine dose, but that the rate was below 60 percent in much of the rest of the state, creating a concerning urban-rural vaccination gap.

How some are closing the divide

Minnesota has 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 94,000 12-to-15-year-olds with at least one dose, about 32 percent of that population. The pace, though, has fallen following an early surge.

The latest available data also shows just under 70 percent of Minnesotans of Asian descent have been vaccinated. Given the reporting lag for data on race and ethnicity, it’s likely that population has already become the first to cross the 70-percent threshold.

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

MPR News Staff

Author

Minnesota is closing in on the milestone of 3 million residents with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But that’s still fewer than two-thirds of Minnesotans 16 and older with at least one dose. And the vaccination pace continues to crawl.

A woman sits as a nurse administers a shot.

Dan Kraker | MPR News file

Graph showing total COVID-19 vaccinations by age

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

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

Map of Minnesota COVID-19 eligible vaccination rate

June 13 update on COVID in MN: State nearing 3 million residents with at least one vaccine dose

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