Credit: Navy Medicine via Flickr
Twenty-two deaths have been added to the COVID-19 toll in Minnesota, as well as just under 2,000 new cases, according to Monday’s report from the state health service.
December has now seen 1,279, making it the deadliest month in Minnesota during the pandemic. In October, fewer than 500 were killed before the death toll skyrocketed to 1,136 in November. Since the first death was reported on March 21, Minnesota has reported a total of 4,872 fatalities.
Long-term deaths account for 64.8% (3,159) of the total, including 10 of the 22 reported Monday.
Aside from the number of deaths, COVID-19 numbers are usually declining in Minnesota. For the perspective, consider that Minnesota reported more than 50,000 active cases in mid-November. There are now (26,010 active cases, according to the health department.
Hospital admissions
Through December 20, the number of people with COVID-19 hospitalized in Minnesota is 1,040. This is down from 1,144 on Thursday and well below the high of 1,840 on November 30.
Of those currently hospitalized, 237 are in intensive care, up from 270 on Thursday, and 803 are receiving non-ICU treatment. They are the fewest COVID-19 patients in the ICU since November 7 and the fewest non-IC patients since November 4.
Test and positivity rates
The 1,992 positive results in Sunday’s update came from a total of 33,391 tests completed, creating a daily test positivity of 5.96%.
The World Health Organization recommended in May that a positive rate (total number of positives divided by total tests completed) of less than 5% for at least two weeks is needed to safely reopen the economy. That 5% threshold is based on the total number of positives divided by the total number of tests.
Coronavirus in Minnesota in numbers
- Total number of tests: 5,232,347 (compared to 5,199,011)
- People tested: 2,870,337 (higher than 2,859,220)
- Positive cases: 399,311 (from 397,319)
- Deaths: 4,872 – 131 of which “likely *” (from 4,850)
- Active cases: 26,010 (from 27,407)
- Patients who no longer require isolation: 373,301 (from 369,912)