COVID-19 in MN: Hospitalizations increase outside Twin Cities as cases increase

3 things to know:

• 3,886 newly confirmed or probable cases, 40 newly reported deaths

• 21,816 known active cases; 864 currently hospitalized

• 73.6% of residents aged 16 and over who received at least one dose of vaccine

The spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in Minnesota has been hitting greater Minnesota for weeks, and hospitals are feeling the impact. For the first time in the pandemic, there are more COVID patients hospitalized in greater Minnesota than in the Twin Cities region.

The pressure is important. COVID accounts for less than 10 percent of hospital patients in the Twin Cities area and southeastern Minnesota, but that percentage is almost twice or more in much of the rest of the state.

Across Minnesota, 864 people are currently in hospital beds with COVID, including 224 intensive care cases, which is higher than in the April outbreak.

The Ministry of Health’s daily number of known and active cases rose to 21,816 as of Wednesday, nearing its peak in 2021. The state has averaged more than 3,000 new cases per day over the years. last seven days of reporting, a level not seen since mid-December. .

Cases continue to increase statewide, driven since late summer by the highly contagious delta variant.

They are increasing in all age groups, from the very young to the very old. The disease is still most prevalent in adolescents, but the trend in recent weeks of growing only in children is no longer true.

The positive test rate, which had remained relatively stable in the spring and early summer, is now showing some upward strength. The seven-day average stands at more than 7%, more than the 5% that officials find worrying and the highest since January.

While it isn’t skyrocketing like last year’s late fall wave, it isn’t backing down. This is an indication that the spread of the disease is increasing.

The state’s death toll stands at 8,243 with 40 newly reported deaths on Wednesday. Among these were two people under the age of 30.

The entire state, with the exception of Cook County in the Arrowhead, shows a high level of transmission of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cases are increasing especially in northwestern Minnesota.

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

However, there is still a slow march to get more Minnesotans vaccinated, and wide gaps remain in vaccination rates between regions and counties.

The Twin Cities region currently has the highest vaccination rate in the state and lowest case rate. Central and western Minnesota have the lowest vaccination rates and the highest case rates.