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The COVID-19 test positivity rate in Minnesota over the past week has fallen below 1 percent.

That's the first time the state has seen that weekly average drop below 1 percent since the pandemic began. 

A month ago Minnesota was averaging a rate above 3 percent; last November the average climbed above 14 percent.

The milestone in Sunday's update from state health officials is another sign that the pandemic continues to recede in Minnesota. Daily case counts remain at levels not seen since April 2020. Hospitalizations and ICU needs are receding rapidly.

But at the same time, the vaccination pace remains stubbornly slow. It will likely be early August at this rate for the state to hit its goal of vaccinating 70 percent of the 16-and-older population.

Overall, though, conditions are looking good, with no signs of a resurgence.

Analysis of COVID-19 data in Minnesota

How to get a COVID-19 shot in Minnesota

COVID-19 in Minnesota

Known, active COVID-19 cases in Minnesota dropped to 1,027 in Sunday’s data. The state has averaged about 117 new cases a day over the past seven reporting days. Both figures continue to hover around lows from April 2020.

As of Friday the Health Department reported 132 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Minnesota — down by half from the start of this month — with 41 needing intensive care. 

Daily hospital admissions are trending near their lowest point since data collection began in the weeks last year after the first COVID-19 case was discovered. 

Nine newly reported deaths on Sunday pushed Minnesota’s pandemic toll to 7,545. 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 604,509 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including the 127 posted Sunday.

About 99 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’s about 62.4 percent completely vaccinated and 66.3 percent with at least one shot, including 90 percent of people 65 and older. 

Add in the more than 100,000 12-to-15-year-olds with at least one dose, and Minnesota has topped 3 million residents with one or more shots. Just over half the state’s total population is now completely vaccinated.

The vaccination pace, however, is stumbling forward at this point. If it continues to crawl, it will be early August before the state reaches 70 percent of adults with at least one shot, a goal public health leaders once hoped could by reached by the end of June.

, with most counties outside the Twin Cities region still below 70 percent. 

There has been progress: Houston, Carlton and Scott counties crossed 70 percent last week. With Scott reaching that threshold, Anoka is the only Twin Cities area county still lagging.

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 

Tracking the vaccination progress in the U.S.

Full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic

MPR News Staff

Author

The COVID-19 test positivity rate in Minnesota over the past week has fallen below 1 percent. That's the first time the state has seen that weekly average drop below 1 percent since the pandemic began. 

Evan Frost | 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 20 update on COVID-19 in MN: Average test positivity rate now below 1 percent

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