Minnesota COVID Hospitalizations Rise Back to Late January Levels
St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - As the number of Minnesotans vaccinated against COVID-19 rises daily, the state has seen increases in the spread of the virus and the number of people hospitalized because of it.
The latest numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health show 411 people are currently hospitalized statewide due to COVID-19 and 102 of those patients are in intensive care. It marks the first time the overall hospitalization total has been above 400 and the ICU bed usage total has exceeded 100 since late January. The low point for the number of patients requiring intensive care was during the first week of this month when it fell to only 37.
The State Health Department today reported 12 coronavirus-related deaths throughout Minnesota. Testing identified 1660 new COVID-19 infections, including 25 new cases in Olmsted County. The daily testing positivity rate was up to 9.2 percent and the seven-day rolling average for the positivity rate remains above five percent.
Locally, Olmsted County Public Health today reported a slight decline in the number of new COVID-19 infections reported over the past week. The total was 10 less than the previous week at 127, which works out to an average of about 18 new cases per day.
News Update: Where To Go To Get A Covid Shot In Minnesota?
LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.