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More than 700,000 Minnesotans have tested positive for coronavirus infections during a 19-month COVID-19 pandemic, the Minnesota Department of Health reported on Tuesday.
Minnesota surpassed the pandemic mark with the addition of 6,203 infections reported on Tuesday, although the actual total of infections in the state is much higher considering the number of people with mild or asymptomatic illnesses who never asked for a test. The state also reported 11 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the pandemic’s toll to 8,109. Tuesday’s update reflects COVID-19 activity detected over the weekend.
Minnesota’s updated total of 706,158 infections means more than 12% of the state’s population of 5.6 million people have tested positive. University of Minnesota infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm said the true rate is considerably higher, having estimated a year ago that up to 30% of Minnesotans had already been infected.
The key question is how many people remain who have not gained at least temporary immunity from a previous infection or vaccination against COVID-19, said Osterholm, director of the U’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy . “What this virus has continued to demonstrate is its ability to find people who are not vaccinated.”
Minnesota reported a 6.6% positivity rate for recent COVID-19 diagnostic tests on Tuesday, down from 7.1% last week, raising hopes that the latest pandemic wave is peaking. COVID-19-related hospitalizations edged up to 767 on Monday, but remained below a high of 794 last week.
Nationally, the COVID-19 map has flipped since the start of the summer. Minnesota ranked 28th among states for its infection rate in the seven-day period ending Sept. 23 – with lower rates in states like Missouri and Florida that experienced early and severe outbreaks of COVID-19, according to a federal profile report released on Tuesday.
Minnesota ranked 12th among states for COVID-19-related hospitalizations and 8th for deaths during this week.
State health officials have said that Minnesota’s first-dose vaccination rate of 74.6% of eligible residents ages 12 and older could prevent more serious illness – based on data showing that vaccines protect somewhat against infection but are strongly protective against hospitalizations and death from COVID-19.
Sanford Health reported Tuesday that 12 of 158 COVID-19 patients admitted to its hospitals in the Dakotas and Minnesota were fully vaccinated. However, only two of its 47 COVID-19 patients in intensive care – and none of its 28 patients on ventilators – have been vaccinated.
Minnesota officials are asking unvaccinated people to research COVID-19 vaccines and eligible people who have received the Pfizer vaccine to look for a third booster dose.
The state followed federal guidelines last week in advising Pfizer boosters for people over the age of 65 or over 50 with underlying health conditions. Providers can also give reminders to people 18 to 49 years old with underlying health conditions and people 18 to 64 years old at increased risk of viral exposure in the workplace. Recall recommendations for Moderna two-dose and Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccines are pending.
Seniors remain more vulnerable to COVID-19, accounting for 12% of infections diagnosed in Minnesota but 87% of its deaths during the pandemic.
The number of infections has increased since July with the emergence of a rapidly spreading delta variant of the coronavirus. The sliding seven-day total of new infections diagnosed by molecular diagnosis or rapid antigen testing hit a low of 613 for the week ending June 26 – shortly after Gov. Tim Walz lifted a state mask mandate and social distancing restrictions.
The growth of cases increased to 15,956 infections during the one-week period ending September 22.
Minnesotans 19 and under account for a larger share of the latest wave – accounting for less than 20% of infections overall, but nearly 26% of infections identified since the low point of the pandemic in late June.
Jeremy Olson • 612-673-7744
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