Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Last case wave ebb; the vaccination rate is slowing down

3 things to know

• Last wave of active cases decreases; ICU still needs a relatively large amount

• About 53 percent of minnezotans ages 16 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine; 37 percent are fully vaccinated

• The pace of the vaccine is slipping as stocks stall

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Updated 11:55 am

The COVID-19 figures in Minnesota continue to suggest that the latest wave of cases may have risen, although intensive care hospitalizations remain relatively high and newly reported deaths are on the rise again.

Known, active cases came in at just over 16,000 in Wednesday’s state health service report, pulling them back from Friday’s peak of just over 20,000.

Given the state’s rate of vaccination, officials did not expect this surge to match the rise in late November, when active cases jumped to about 50,000. But they were concerned about the growth of COVID-19 strains and Minnesota’s willingness to remain vigilant against the disease.

The vaccination rate is stable, but lower than earlier in the month. Nearly 53 percent of all minnesotans ages 16 and older have received at least one injection with more than 37 percent fully vaccinated.

The percentage of COVID-19 tests that return positive continues to decline after a recent rebound. It’s still above the 5 percent threshold that public health leaders find worrying.

Vaccination rate slips when stocks run aground

As of Wednesday, data from the state health department showed that more than 1.6 million Minnesota minions had completed their full vaccination series – two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine – while more than 2, 3 million have received at least one dose, including nearly 86 percent of residents 65 and older.

The state’s efforts were recently hampered by supply restrictions, particularly in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which federal authorities stopped last week from investigating the possibility of rare side effects associated with the shot.

The Minnesota vaccination rate peaked last week with more than 40,000 first doses per day. Now it looks like the state is on its way to half and may last for several weeks.

With about 27,000 first doses per day, the current rate, Minnesota is on track to vaccinate 80 percent of adults in early June. This had peaked mid to late May.

Supply continues to exceed demand in some parts of the state.

On Tuesday, the Mayo Clinic, with locations in southern Minnesota, called out to the media that it had too many spots. In a report to the press, Mayo said that people who are not in-clinic patients could sign up with them for a vaccine, as well as people who don’t live in Minnesota.

Elsewhere, local public health with additional doses is working with schools to vaccinate teens 16 and older. Data shows that Minnesota generally delivers vaccines almost as quickly as they come in.

Hospital, ICU must float at the winter level

Hospital admissions have risen significantly in recent weeks, hovering at levels not seen since January. Health officials say coronavirus variants circulating in Minnesota are driving these rises.

Wednesday’s health department report showed 676 people with COVID-19 in Minnesota hospitals; 193 needed an intensive care bed.

The age of those newly hospitalized tends to be younger than before during the pandemic. The majority of people now in the hospital for COVID-19 are under the age of 60.

Thirteen deaths reported Wednesday raised Minnesota’s total death toll to 7,044. About 62 percent of the deceased lived in long-term care or assisted living facilities; most had underlying health problems.

The state has registered a total of 560,450 confirmed or probable cases of the pandemic so far, including the 1,611 posted Wednesday. About 95 percent of minnesotans known to have been infected with COVID-19 during the pandemic have recovered to the point where they no longer need to be isolated.

Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in better shape than in late November and early December. The number of cases has been on the rise in the state in recent weeks, but it looks like most of it has peaked.

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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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