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Minnesota reported 2,071 coronavirus infections linked to pre-K-12 school buildings in the week ending September 18 on Thursday, an increase from 977 the week before and the first weekly tally above 2,000 in the pandemic.
The increase comes as some schools finalize COVID-19 response plans before the Oct. 1 deadline for US bailout federal funds, while others change their plans in response to coronavirus infections in their schools. buildings and their communities. While an increase after the start of classes is not surprising, the total has more than doubled from last fall – at a time when the COVID-19 vaccine was not available to people 12 and 12 years old and more, according to weekly data from the Minnesota Department of Health. .
It is not known whether the increase in epidemics in schools reflects the peak of the latest pandemic wave. Key models from the Mayo Clinic and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict a level or slight growth in infections by mid-October. Minnesota reported a 6.7% positivity rate for diagnostic tests on Thursday, lower than a high of 7.1% last week, but above the state’s cautious threshold for significant viral spread.
Children are at significantly lower risk of severe COVID-19, but health officials fear they may spread the coronavirus to vulnerable people who are older or have chronic health conditions. Children are not immune either. Data from federal hospitals showed 57 children with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were newly admitted to hospitals in Minnesota during the seven-day period ending Tuesday – one of the most week-long totals high since December.
The total number of inpatient beds filled with COVID-19 patients in Minnesota rose from 801 Tuesday to 789 Wednesday, according to the state’s pandemic response webpage, but remains at near record highs for 2021 The state also reported 2,874 more coronavirus infections and 13 deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the pandemic total to 711,094 infections and 8,153 deaths.
Ten of the 13 deaths from COVID-19 reported on Thursday were of older people. Only three pediatric deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Minnesota during the 19-month pandemic.
School-related COVID-19 cases involve students or staff who could have been exposed to the virus anywhere but spent time in their school buildings while infectious. Routine testing could contribute to the higher number and to the identification of some milder or asymptomatic cases. About 30% of Minnesota’s 2,500 school buildings have ordered test kits from the state.
Minnesota has reported a total of 31,470 infections associated with pre-K-12 schools, which provide education to more than 900,000 students each year and employ more than 140,000 workers.
The number of school buildings with COVID-19 outbreaks has increased to 233. Outbreaks are defined as at least five people who tested positive over a two-week period and were in their school buildings while they were away. infectious. The definition is a sore point for some top principals, as five cases is small in a student body of 1,000 or more, but it shows the continued spread of the coronavirus nonetheless. Only 96 outbreaks were reported last week.
Schools are being removed from the state’s list after having had no new coronavirus infections for four weeks, meaning some of the schools listed have had previous outbreaks but no longer show viral activity.
While more than 72% of Minnesotans ages 12 and older have received at least the first few doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to state data that excludes some vaccinations at federal sites, that rate declines with age. First-dose rates are below 60% in the 12 to 17 age group, who are eligible for Pfizer’s two-dose version of the COVID-19 vaccine. Federal recommendations making COVID-19 vaccines available to young children are expected later this fall.
Minnesota on Thursday reported 147 infections during the week ending Sept. 18 that were associated with colleges and higher education institutions, many of which have vaccine or routine testing mandates in effect for students. The state also reported 879 more infections linked to pre-K-12 schools during the week ending September 25, but that’s a preliminary total that will rise with next week’s report.
Jeremy Olson • 612-673-7744
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