Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Cases continue to fall, vaccinations remain stable

3 things to know

• About 52 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older received at least one vaccine dose; 36 percent are completely vaccinated

• Hospital admission, ICU trends remain steady; health officials believe virus variants are likely to increase in new cases

• Minnesota’s number of pandemics now dies at 7,031

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Updated: 12:35 pm

As the state wants to knock out a new, more contagious variant of COVID-19 with vaccines, COVID-19 cases – and case positivity – continue to decline.

The state reported 1,189 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, vaccination rates have remained steady, with 52 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older getting a COVID-19 shot.

And although hospitalizations have generally remained unchanged from recent days, there is still no clear decline in hospitalization data. The state on Tuesday reported 193 people in the intensive care unit and 493 people in non-ICU beds. Both figures are about as high as in months. ”

The state reported five additional deaths Tuesday, bringing the state’s death toll to 7,031.

Here’s the latest from Minnesota COVID-19 statisticsfrom Monday:

• 7,031 deaths (five new); 558,850 positive cases; 95 percent discount on insulation

• 52 percent of adults with at least one dose; 36 percent completely vaccinated

• About 85 percent of Minnesotans 65 and older with at least one vaccine dose

Downward vaccinations

As of Tuesday, the state Department of Health data showed that more than 1.6 million Minnesotans had completed their full range of vaccines – two doses of Pfizer or Modern vaccines or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine – while nearly 2.3 million at least one received dose, including about 85 percent of residents 65 years and older.

The numbers have remained steady over the past few days, and general information suggests that vaccines are slipping downwards. This is partly driven by the reduction in supply, particularly in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was suspended by federal authorities last week as it investigates the possibility of rare side effects associated with the shot.

Meanwhile, supply in some parts of the state remains better than demand.

On Tuesday, the Mayo Clinic, which is in southern Minnesota, made a call to the media that it has too many places. In a notice sent to the press, Mayo said people who are not clinic patients can sign up for a vaccine with them, as well as people who do not live in Minnesota.

Elsewhere, local public health is working with extra doses to work with schools to vaccinate teens 16 and older.

Yet the data show that Minnesota in general administers vaccines almost as fast as it enters.

Hospital, ICU must soar at winter levels

Hospitalizations have risen significantly over the past few weeks, hovering around levels not seen since early January. Health officials say the coronavirus variants spreading in Minnesota are causing the increases.

However, the latest figures suggest that hospitalizations could peak.

The age of those just admitted to the hospital is younger than earlier in the pandemic. The majority of people in hospital for COVID-19 are younger than 60.

Six deaths increased Minnesota’s total death toll to 7,031 on Tuesday. Among the deceased, about 62 percent lived in long-term care or assistance facilities; most had underlying health problems.

The state has so far recorded 558,850 confirmed or probable cases in the pandemic, including the 1,189 posted Tuesday. About 95 percent of Minnesotans known to be infected with COVID-19 in the pandemic have recovered to the point that they no longer need to be isolated.

There are signs that the current wave may be taking down new cases. The percentage of tests that have returned positive for COVID-19 over the past seven days is still declining.

Thanks to vaccinations, officials do not believe Minnesota will experience the kind of sharp increase in cases seen in November and December.

Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in better condition than at the end of November and early December. However, the latest figures show cases creeping across the state.

Cases, vaccinations among coloreds

In Minnesota and across the state, COVID-19 hit communities of color excessively hard in both cases and deaths. This is especially true for Minnesotans of Spanish descent for much of the pandemic.

Although the number of new cases is still lower than the end of November, in early December, the data show that Latino people are still being hit hard.

The vaccination rate for people of color also remains frustratingly slow compared to white Minnesotans.

Developments around the state

National shows still have questions

Excavation organizers in Minnesota are watching the COVID-19 case numbers and vaccination figures, with a mixture of hope and fear.

It’s not clear what the COVID-19 landscape will look like this summer. Vaccination figures are in a close race with more contagious variants – and the uncertainty is starting to come from the organizers of counties. And planning is well underway for this summer’s fairs, after many were canceled by the pandemic last year.

Lake of the Woods County has one of the state’s earlier fairs, beginning in mid-July. JP Sweet, one of the fair’s planners, said it was difficult to pinpoint the events with any certainty – or even know how to lay out the fair – because it was not clear in a few months the landscape is not going to be.

What will restrictions look like there? What does the masking look like? Sweet said. ‘And where are our numbers? Because of course we do not want to host a public event when we are in the middle of a major COVID outbreak in our community. ”

Sweet said he is considering rescheduling the fair for later in the summer, but it will present a whole range of challenges. For now, he said the only option is to stay flexible and be ready to drastically reduce the fair, if necessary.

“What would make a move for a provincial scholarship very difficult would be, your carnival is your big one,” he said. “Our husband comes from New Orleans and plays several dig shows throughout the state.”

The carnival is discussed years ahead of time. There can be no rescheduling. He will have to cancel the carnival to move the fair itself. And without rides, Sweet said, the fair is not worth it.

– John Enger | MPR News

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COVID-19 in Minnesota

The data in these graphs are based on the cumulative totals of the Department of Health in Minnesota released daily at 11 p.m. You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at the Website of the Department of Health.

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