COVID-19 in MN: Death toll exceeds 8K as pandemic heads into fall

3 things to know:

• 6,352 new confirmed or probable cases (3 days of data)

• 17,035 known active cases; 791 currently hospitalized

• 72.9% of residents aged 16 and over who received at least one dose of vaccine

Minnesota continues to reach and pass sad milestones in the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials on Tuesday announced the state’s death toll topped 8,000. The summer wave persists with the number of cases and the burden on Minnesota hospitals similar to the wave in mid-April.

Officials have been concerned for weeks about a potential increase in the new school year, Labor Day gatherings and the Minnesota State Fair.

While the data is frustrating, the rate of positive tests remains relatively stable – the seven-day average is just over 6%, above the 5% that officials find worrying but not leaping like in other waves.

Yet the numbers continue to climb. Cases accelerated until the end of the summer, driven by the highly contagious delta variant.

Tuesday’s daily number of known and active cases stood at just over 17,000, down slightly from the previous day, but remains stuck at levels not seen since late April. They average over 11,000 during the last week of intercourse as the disease demonstrates its resilience.

The state’s death toll stands at 8,011, with nearly 500 of the total reported in the past three months.

Current hospital and intensive care needs have increased during this summer wave – 791 people are currently in hospital beds with COVID-19, including 222 intensive care cases, more than during the outbreak April.

Minnesota remains better positioned now than during the peaks of fall and spring. Almost 72 percent of state residents aged 12 and older have received at least one vaccine, and more than two-thirds of this population are fully immunized.

However, getting more Minnesotans vaccinated remains a chore, and large gaps remain in vaccination rates between regions and counties.

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.

On Tuesday, the Walz administration said the Mall of America community vaccination site would expand its hours and capacity to facilitate immunizations for families, 12 to 17 year olds and workers.