COVID-19 in Minnesota: No sign of peak; officials worried about crowd at state fair

3 things to know

• 3,838 newly confirmed or probable cases (3 day count); 8 newly reported deaths

• 10,859 known active cases; 547 currently hospitalized

• 71.2 percent of residents aged 16 and over who received at least one dose of vaccine

Update 3:14 p.m.

A month of August that opened with hope that the end was near as the COVID-19 pandemic is ending with no clear idea of ​​when this latest wave will peak.

Data from the Department of Health on Tuesday showed Minnesota had an average of nearly 1,400 new cases per day over the past seven reporting days – more than double the number in early August and significantly higher than the 91 dailies. early July.

The growth heightens concerns among state public health officials about the potential viral spread among large crowds expected to head to the Minnesota State Fair, which begins Thursday.

When asked if she was nervous about the event given the highly contagious delta variant, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm told reporters: “The honest answer to that is yes.” She stressed that getting the vaccine is the best thing people can do to protect themselves.

“Of course we are concerned ‘about the fair,’ but we believe people have the information they need to make the right choices,” she said, noting federal recommendations calling for people to be masked in. large outdoor gatherings.

Department of Health officials noted that they have so far confirmed nine cases of COVID-19 linked to the We Fest music festival in early August in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, as well as 13 cases so far associated with the recent gathering. massive motorcycles in Sturgis, South Dakota

Overall, Minnesota cases have accelerated since early July, driven by the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19, leading to more illness and hospitalizations. Known and active cases in that stretch fell from 780 to 10,859 in Tuesday’s data.

The rate of positive tests continued to trend just above the 5% threshold that public health officials find worrying.

Hospital and intensive care needs have increased, although they still have not reached the peaks seen in the fall and spring – 547 people are currently in hospital beds with COVID-19, of which 153 require intensive care. During the mid-April surge, 202 patients at one point required intensive care beds.

Malcolm and other officials have continued to implore people to remain vigilant against COVID-19, including wearing layers of masks in circumstances where masks are recommended, including the fair.

“We’re not going to want this virus to be gone, and delta is particularly good at finding you if you let your guard down,” state infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said on Tuesday.

Minnesota remains better positioned now than during the peaks of fall and spring.

The biggest difference: More than 71% of state residents aged 16 and over have received at least one vaccine. Add to that more than 148,000 young people aged 12 to 15 who have received at least one injection so far and the state has nearly 3.3 million people partially or fully vaccinated.

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

Yet it remains slow to get more Minnesotans vaccinated, and wide gaps remain in vaccination rates between regions of the state.

Ehresmann said on Tuesday that booster shots for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available from September 20, but people have to wait eight months from their second injection before getting the booster.

Listen to Tuesday’s briefing from Minnesota public health officials: