Three things to know about COVID-19 in Minnesota today:
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The Minnesota Department of Health is expected to announce an increase in vaccine doses for people 65 and older, and more ways to get those vaccinations.
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About 7.6 percent of Minnesota has received at least one dose of the vaccine; 2 percent received both doses.
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Averaged over the past week, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported every day in Minnesota dropped below 1,000 on Sunday for the first time in more than four months.
The Minnesota Department of Health is expected to announce the next steps in the state’s COVID-19 vaccination effort on Monday.
After two weeks of a pilot program – for people 65 and older and educators – testing the logistics for community vaccination clinics, a state health official said Sunday evening that the health department will announce:
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‘Significantly more’ vaccine doses intended for minnesotans ages 65 and older, available not only at local vaccination sites, but also by appointment in clinics, hospitals and pharmacies across the state.
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Permanent community vaccination sites will open next week in Minneapolis, Duluth and a location to be determined in southern Minnesota, with additional opening in the coming weeks.
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An online map of Minnesota members to providers in their area who administer vaccinations.
More details will be announced later Monday.
While there isn’t enough vaccine yet to meet demand, state health officials said the current infrastructure will speed up vaccinations once more doses are available.
The update comes because the most recent report from health officials shows that about 418,000 Minnesota minne – 7.6 percent of the state’s residents – have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Nearly 112,000 people – about 2 percent of the state’s residents – received both doses to complete the vaccination.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 numbers in Minnesota continue to move in a positive direction from the beginning of February.
On average over the past week, the number of new COVID cases reported every day in Minnesota fell below 1,000 for the first time in more than four months on Sunday. The mean number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths per day also continues to decline, as does the mean test positivity rate.
Here are the current Minnesota COVID-19 statistics:
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6,200 dead (13 new)
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461,807 positive cases (996 new); 446,137 outside isolation (97 percent)
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6.6 million tests, 3.3 million Minnesota Minnesota tested (about 56 percent of the population)
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3.3 percent seven-day positive test rate (officials find 5 percent or more worrying)
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7.6 percent of minnesotans have been vaccinated with at least one dose
The COVID-19 death toll in Minnesota continues to rise – to 6,200 on Sunday.
And health experts are closely monitoring new coronavirus variants to watch for signs of rising numbers.
Cases spread across age groups, regions
People in their 20s are still the age bracket with the highest number of confirmed cases in the state – nearly 88,000 since the start of the pandemic, including more than 46,000 among people 20 to 24 years old.
The number of high school youngsters confirmed with the disease has also risen, with more than 35,000 cases aged 15 to 19 since the start of the pandemic.
While less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up in hospital, experts are concerned that youth and young adults will spread it to older family members and members of other vulnerable populations.
It’s especially concerning because people can have the coronavirus and spread COVID-19 if they don’t have symptoms.
Caseloads are declining in all regions of the state after an echo from late December to early January.
Hotspots keep popping up in rural counties in proportion to their population.
Caseloads are still heaviest among people of color
In Minnesota and across the country, COVID-19 has disproportionately hit communities of color in both cases and deaths. This was especially the case for minnesotans of Spanish descent during much of the pandemic.
Even as the new case starts to count from their late November, early December peaks, the data shows that people of color are still hit the hardest.
Distrust of the government, along with deep-seated health and economic inequalities, have hampered efforts to encourage testing among colored communities, officials say, especially among unauthorized immigrants who fear their personal information could be used to deport them .
Similar trends have been seen among Minnesota native residents during the pandemic. The number of indigenous peoples has increased relative to the population in October.
COVID-19 in Minnesota
The data in these charts is based on Minnesota Department of Health cumulative totals released daily at 11 a.m. You can find more detailed statistics about COVID-19 at it Health Department website.
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