3 things to know
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Latest wave of active cases withdrawing; ICU still needs relatively high
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About 53 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older received at least one vaccine dose; 37 percent are completely vaccinated
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Vaccines needed to dip
Updated at 11:55 am
The COVID-19 numbers in Minnesota suggest that the latest spate of cases is likely to occur, although hospitalizations for intensive care remain relatively high and the deaths just reported have re-recorded.
Well-known, active cases come to just over 16,000 in Wednesday’s Health Department report, which continued a retreat from Friday’s peak of just over 20,000.
Given the state’s vaccination rate, officials did not expect this wave to rise by the end of November, when active cases jumped to about 50,000. But they were concerned about the growth of COVID-19 strains and the willingness of Minnesotans to be vigilant against the disease.
The vaccination rate is steady, but lower than earlier in the month. Nearly 53 percent of all Minnesotans 16 and older received at least one shot with more than 37 percent being completely vaccinated.
The percentage of COVID-19 tests returning positive is still trending towards a recent upswing. It is still above the 5 percent threshold when it comes to public health leaders.
Vaccination stocks are expected to fall
As of Wednesday, State Health Department data showed that more than 1.6 million Minnesotans had completed their full range of vaccines – two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccines – while more than 2.3 million had at least one received dose, including nearly 86 percent of residents 65 years and older.
The state’s efforts have recently been hampered by the reduction in supply, particularly in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was interrupted by federal authorities last week as they investigated the possibility of rare side effects associated with the shot.
Minnesota’s vaccination rate peaked last week at more than 40,000 first doses per day. Now it looks like the state is on track for half of that and could take a few weeks.
At about 27,000 first doses per day, the current rate, Minnesota is on track to vaccinate 80 percent of adults in early June. It was at its peak mid to late May.
Projections by MPR News Reporter David Montgomery
The supply continues to exceed demand in some parts of the state.
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. Data show that Minnesota in general administers vaccines almost as fast as it enters.
Hospital, ICU must soar at winter levels
Hospitalizations have climbed significantly over the past few weeks, hovering at levels not seen since January. Health officials say the coronavirus variants spreading in Minnesota are causing the increases.
Wednesday’s report from the Department of Health showed 676 people with COVID-19 in Minnesota hospitals; 193 needed an intensive care bed.
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.
Thirteen deaths reported Wednesday increased the total death toll from Minnesota to 7,044. 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 560,450 total confirmed or probable cases in the pandemic, including the 1,611 posted Wednesday. 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.
Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in better condition than at the end of November and early December. The number of cases has increased across the country in recent weeks, but it seems to have mostly peaked.
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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