COVID-19 in MN: Is Baby Coming Out of the Last Wave?

3 things to know:

• 2,050 newly confirmed or probable cases, lower than the previous Friday

• 14,249 known active cases; 695 currently hospitalized

• 72.3% of residents aged 16 and over who received at least one dose of vaccine

Updated at 4.30 p.m.

COVID-19 continues to hit Minnesota with a stiff punch in late summer. The Department of Health’s most recent report, however, offers another dose of slightly optimistic data suggesting that the current outbreak of the pandemic may be running out of steam.

The agency reported 2,050 newly confirmed or probable cases on Friday, down from the previous Friday. Known and active cases are trending down, with the state averaging 7,744 in the last week of reporting, down from two weeks ago.

It is certainly too early to say that the worst is done. Officials remain concerned about a potential spike in cases stemming from the new school year, Labor Day gatherings and the Minnesota State Fair. On Friday afternoon, KARE 11 reported that 69 cases have so far been linked to the fair.

Overall, active cases are still more than double what they were a month ago.

“The good news is that the rate of increase is slowing down a bit,” Malcolm said Thursday.

Cases accelerated until the end of the summer, driven by the highly contagious delta variant. The rate of positive return COVID-19 tests is still trending above the 5% threshold that public health officials find worrying.

Hospital and intensive care needs have increased during this summer wave, although they still have not reached the peaks seen in the fall and spring – 695 people are currently in hospital beds. hospital with COVID-19, including 185 intensive care cases. During the mid-April surge, 202 patients at one time required intensive care beds.

The health ministry added 18 newly reported deaths, bringing the pandemic’s toll to 7,892.

Minnesota remains better positioned now than during the peaks of fall and spring. More than 71% of state residents aged 12 and older have received at least one vaccine, and more than two-thirds of this population are fully immunized.

There remains a slow march to get more Minnesotans vaccinated, and wide gaps remain in the vaccination rate between regions of the state.

The authorities also remain concerned about the increase in the number of cases among school-aged children as the new school year dawns. Compared to the same time last year, case rates and hospitalizations in this group are higher.

State director of infectious diseases Kris Ehresmann said this trend is a combination of the delta variant being more contagious and children having much more exposure than last year. In the fall of 2020, children were covering up everywhere and doing distance learning or hybrid learning.

All Minnesotans aged 12 and over are urged to get vaccinated, and authorities are urging students, teachers, staff and visitors to wear masks inside school buildings, regardless of their immunization status.

“Masking reduces the transmission of COVID. Period, ”Malcolm told reporters Thursday. “Your mask protects you and those around you. “