Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

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Minnesota’s late-summer COVID-19 wave hasn’t been as steep as the waves that hit last spring and fall, but this one is taking longer to crest. Friday’s Health Department data shows the slow upward grind continues.

The state averaged more than 1,500 new cases per day over the last seven reporting days — three times greater than the start of August and dramatically higher than the 91 daily at the start of July.

Counts have accelerated in the late summer driven by the delta variant, leading to more sickness and hospitalizations. Known, active cases went from 780 on July 1 to nearly 13,000 in Friday’s report.

The rate of tests coming back positive continued to trend just above the 5 percent threshold that public health officials find concerning, although Friday’s numbers showed some slight improvement.

Hospital and intensive care needs have risen, although they still haven’t reached peak counts seen in the fall and spring — 590 people are in hospital beds currently with COVID-19, including 166 needing intensive care. During the mid-April wave, 202 patients at one point needed ICU beds.

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Minnesota remains better positioned now than during the fall and spring spikes. More than 70 percent of state residents age 12 and older have received at least one vaccination shot, and nearly two-thirds of that population are completely vaccinated.

More than half of every eligible age group in Minnesota has at least one dose of vaccine. 

Still, it remains a slow march to get more Minnesotans vaccinated, and wide gaps remain in the vaccination rate among state regions. 

State health leaders on Friday continued to urge Minnesotans to stay vigilant against the disease, noting that all but one Minnesota County — Big Stone — shows viral transmission in the high or substantial range.

They remain concerned about the spread of the virus among younger Minnesotans. The Health Department said it’s confirmed 324 cases this week of COVID-19 tied to schools, summer camps, child care and similar settings, nearly 50 percent more than the prior week.

Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm also implored Minnesota schools to follow federal guidance on masking and social distancing, noting the situation in Albert Lea where 

nearly 300 students are now in COVID-19 quarantine

 after being exposed to the virus. School began a few days ago.

“The transmission chain started just that quickly and now may not be easily stopped,” Malcolm said. 

COVID spread triggers mask policy changes

MPR News Staff

Author

While Minnesota’s late-summer COVID-19 wave hasn’t been as steep as the waves that hit last spring and fall, this one is taking longer to crest.

A man uses a needle to administer a vaccine. 

Christine T. Nguyen | MPR News

David H. Montgomery | MPR News

Active, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota

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

Graph showing total COVID-19 vaccinations by age

Map of Minnesota COVID-19 eligible vaccination rate

COVID-19 in MN: Summer wave edges higher; cases, hospital needs climb

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