COVID-19 in MN: small signs the summer wave could ebb

3 things to know

• 1,215 newly confirmed or probable cases, lowest daily count in 3 weeks

• 13,160 known active cases; 663 currently hospitalized

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

Updated at 14:42

The COVID-19 wave of late summer in Minnesota continues to progress into the fall. While the latest figures offer some hope for the curve to flatten out, the state is not out of the woods just yet.

Authorities remain concerned about the increase in the number of cases among school-aged children as the new school year begins. They continue to urge all Minnesotans aged 12 and over to get vaccinated, and they implore students, teachers, staff and visitors to wear masks inside school buildings, regardless of their status. vaccine.

“Masking reduces the transmission of COVID. Period, ”Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said Thursday. “Your mask protects you and those around you.”

The health ministry on Thursday reported 1,215 newly confirmed or probable cases – the lowest daily number in three weeks. Known and active cases also tend to decline, with the state averaging 7,684 in the last week of reporting, the lowest since August 25.

It is too early to say that the worst of Wave Four is over. Officials remain concerned about the potential effects of the new school year, Labor Day gatherings and the Minnesota State Fair, although there is so far no sign of a slight increase in crowd.

“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 COVID-19 tests that come back positive is trending towards 6%, remaining 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 – 663 people are currently in hospital beds. hospital with COVID-19, including 178 cases of intensive care. During the mid-April surge, 202 patients at one point required intensive care beds.

The health ministry added nine newly reported deaths, bringing the pandemic’s toll to 7,874. The state has averaged about five deaths a day over the past week.

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.

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

Listen to Thursday’s briefing from state health and education officials: