Latest news on COVID-19 in MN: 57 more deaths; declining test positivity rate

Minnesota health officials on Sunday reported 57 more deaths from COVID-19 in the state.

This is how nearly 9,000 additional cases. This is the largest increase in the number of single-day cases in the state – but it’s from a record total of more than 97,000 test results.

On average over the last week, the test positivity rate continues on a downward trend. It is now at 10.2% – a significant drop from the start of the month, although still well above the 5% threshold that state officials say is concerning.

The deaths reported on Sunday included 29 residents of long-term care facilities and 28 people who lived in private homes. The overall death toll from the pandemic in Minnesota now stands at 3,578, with a total of confirmed COVID-19 cases of more than 312,000.

Hospitalizations remain close to records.

This is Minnesota current statistics of COVID-19:

• 3,578 deaths (57 new)

• 312,969 positive cases (8,953 new); 265223 excluding isolation

• 4.2 million tests, 2.5 million people tested (approximately 42% of the population)

• 10.2% seven-day testing rate (officials find 5% worrying)

Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm last week quashed hopes that current data point to continued improvement in conditions.

“We wouldn’t consider that we still have some sort of reliable trend,” Malcolm told reporters.

“While we have certainly been happy to see a slightly lower number of cases in recent days, we believe this could be another of those patterns we saw earlier in the outbreak,” she said. . “Maybe we are now in a trough between the waves and don’t necessarily think what we’ve seen in the last few days represents the downside of a peak.”

Health officials remain concerned about another possible hospital jump in a few weeks after Thanksgiving holiday gatherings where symptom-free family and friends could unknowingly spread the virus.

The number of cases distributed among age groups

New cases have increased over the past month in all age groups.

People in their 20s are still the age group with the highest number of confirmed cases in the state – more than 60,000 since the start of the pandemic, including nearly 33,000 among those aged 20 to 24.

The number of school-aged children confirmed with the disease has also increased, with more than 24,000 total cases among children aged 15 to 19 since the start of the pandemic.

The numbers help explain why experts remain particularly concerned about adolescents and young adults as spreaders of the virus.

Although less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up in hospital, experts fear that young people and young adults could pass it on to grandparents and other vulnerable populations.

This is of particular concern because people can have the coronavirus and spread COVID-19 when they don’t have symptoms.

Walz recently said the state had data showing infection rates were increasing around bar and restaurant activity after 9 p.m. among young adults, noting that people who have the virus but have no no symptoms can spread it unintentionally.

Virus bursts into rural Minnesota

Regionally, central and northern Minnesota has been responsible for much of the recent increase in new cases, while Hennepin and Ramsey counties have one of the slowest growths in cases of State.

The fastest growing epidemics remain largely along the state’s western border with the Dakotas, where the virus is spreading unchecked. But new cases are mushrooming all over Minnesota.

Collectively, rural areas continue to report the highest number of new COVID-19 cases per capita.

Latino cases are climbing

In Minnesota and across the country, COVID-19 has disproportionately hit communities of color in both cases and deaths. This has been particularly true for Hispanic Minnesotans during much of the pandemic.

Distrust of the government, as well as deep-rooted health and economic disparities, have hampered efforts to step up testing among communities of color, officials say, especially among unauthorized immigrants who fear their information. personal data are used to deport them.

Similar trends hold for native residents of Minnesota. Counts among Aboriginal people jumped in October relative to the population.

Cases among all races and ethnicities continue to increase, although currently the growth is the slowest among blacks in Minnesota, who have reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases per capita for much. spring and summer.

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Developments around the State

The University of Minnesota football program announced on Saturday night that 15 other people on the team had tested positive for COVID-19.

This includes eight athletes and seven staff. This brings the total number of football players and staff who have tested positive since November 19 to 40 – 20 athletes and 20 staff.

The football schedule suspended all team-related activities last week, including the cancellation of this weekend’s game against Wisconsin.

Minnesota is scheduled to host Northwestern next Saturday, December 5. Gophers officials said they will give a status update for the team on Tuesday.

– The MPR News team

Lockdown of Fargo prison after inmate tests positive for COVID-19

The Fargo County Jail in North Dakota is on lockdown after an inmate tested positive for coronavirus.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said Friday the precaution took effect after the facility’s general population inmate was discovered this morning with COVID-19.

In a statement, the sheriff’s office said inmates and staff will be tested. The inmate who tested positive is in quarantine at the prison.

– The MPR News team

U to research COVID-19 outbreaks and immigrants

A new research center at the University of Minnesota will focus on controlling COVID-19 outbreaks in immigrant communities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave U of M a $ 5 million grant to create the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants. It will work with local health services to train providers in culturally appropriate care.

Shailey Prasad, professor of medicine who heads the center, said evidence shows the virus has disproportionately affected communities of color. Many, he said, “are essential workers like farm laborers or workers in food processing plants and have difficulty maintaining social distancing, for example, or perhaps difficulty accessing Health care.

The center plans to identify obstacles and help with mitigation.

– Riham Feshir | MPR News

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Main titles

COVID has spread, causing ‘surreal’ staff problems in nursing homes: Long-term care in Minnesota is in dire need of personnel support. With the peak of COVID-19, a large number of employees are sick or are in quarantine due to the exposure. The situation is forcing state officials to take unusual steps to fill in the gaps.

Research shows that resilient seniors but stressed by COVID isolation: The pandemic has isolated many of us from our friends, family and colleagues. But for older people who live alone, the loss of connection can be even deeper. Researchers have spoken to dozens of elderly adults in Minnesota and North Dakota since the pandemic began, as part of an ongoing study into the effects of isolation.

The state is preparing to roll out the first rounds of COVID-19 vaccines: As two COVID-19 vaccines approach Food and Drug Administration approval, state officials prepare their vaccine distribution plan. They say getting most people vaccinated will be key to putting out a virus that has killed thousands in Minnesota.

COVID-19 Awareness Campaign Targets Northern Minnesota County: It took months for COVID-19 to take hold in Roseau County, on the northern border of Minnesota. But now the virus is spreading rapidly and this week county officials are launching a comprehensive public campaign to convince residents to take the threat seriously.

Lawmakers are looking for ways to help businesses and workers: With another round of COVID-19 restrictions taking effect Friday night, lawmakers in Minnesota are looking for ways to help small businesses that may be forced to close and employees who are put out of work. Discussions are already underway on what the state can do and when it could happen.

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COVID-19 in Minnesota

The data in these charts is based on cumulative totals from the Minnesota Department of Health released at 11 a.m. daily. You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at Department of Health website.