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ST. PAUL – State health officials reported Tuesday, Jan.5, that 1,612 additional cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, have been documented in Minnesota.
The total number of known cases of COVID-19 in the state now stands at 425,261.
Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said Monday, Jan. 4, the state’s pandemic outlook was improving but “that improvement was tenuous.”
“If we let our guard down, COVID-19 finds a way to come back,” Malcolm said in a press conference call.
Health measures implemented in November, including a temporary ban on indoor eating in bars and restaurants, appear to have pushed back the surge in COVID-19 infections that began that month. And while the percentage of COVID-19 tests confirming the disease that have tested positive is up slightly, Malcolm said, is still below the 10% threshold that health experts say they avoid.
Gov. Tim Walz, meanwhile, announced he would lift the ban on indoor eating and other health measures with an announcement on Wednesday, January 6.
As of Tuesday, approximately 80,857 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Minnesota. The state has enough doses on hand, health department officials say, to immunize citizens belonging to the “Phase 1A – first priority” group, made up of hospital staff and qualified nursing home residents.
Phase 1A of the vaccine rollout in Minnesota consists primarily of medical staff and assisted living residents. It is expected to be completed by the end of the month, Malcolm said on Monday, with federal guidance on the next phase expected to be released soon.
Eighteen more deaths attributed to the disease were also reported on Tuesday, bringing the death toll from the Minnesota pandemic to 5,461. Of these, 10 were outside the Twin Cities area and seven in long-term care facilities.
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- Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline: 651-201-3920.
- COVID-19 Discrimination Hotline: 833-454-0148
- Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 website: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) website.
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