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About 70 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older have gotten at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

It's a milestone Gov. Tim Walz had hoped to meet by July 1, but fell short of that goal as demand for vaccines slowed. 

“The data is clear: vaccines are our key to fighting COVID-19 and the delta variant, and millions of Minnesotans rolled up their sleeves to protect themselves, their families, and their communities,” Walz said in a statement.

Since then, two factors have started to push demand for the vaccine up again: 

, which has been hitting unvaccinated younger people harder than the original version of the virus. 

To date, 64.4 percent of all Minnesotans eligible for the shot have completed their vaccinations.

Currently, vaccines are only available to people 12 and older.

The state positivity rate accelerated Thursday, continuing a trend of COVID-19 cases increasing over the past month. Thursday’s reported 1,318 new positive cases continue a trend since Friday of over 1,000 cases reported a day. The seven-day average of new cases is currently at around 967. 

The seven-day case positivity rate has moved to 4.51 percent, an upward trend since July 1. 

Although deaths are higher this week, the trend remains at 10 deaths reported or lower, a continuing pattern since early June. The seven-day average has increased to about five deaths per day.

Health

NewsPartners

COVID-19

Catharine Richert

Author

MPR News Staff

It's a milestone Gov. Tim Walz had hoped to meet by July 1, but fell short of that goal as demand for vaccines slowed. 


A man holds a woman's shoulders as she gets a shot.

Evan Frost | MPR News

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

David H. Montgomery | MPR News

New COVID-19 related deaths reported in Minnesota each day

COVID-19 in MN: State reaches 70% goal for 1st vaccinations 16 and up

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