Most recent in COVID-19 in MN: Solid trends; vaccination rate increases

3 things to know:

• Hospital admissions, new cases and volumes of active cases look good

• Deaths averaging less than 10 a day for the first time since October

• Modest improvement in the rate of vaccination; time can change that

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Updated: 17:47

Minnesota’s COVID-19 numbers show the state on a stable and positive path, with key pandemic metrics continuing to improve.

The known and active cases fell below 7,000 for three consecutive days this week, the first time since the end of September.

The trend of seven-day hospitalizations for people with COVID-19 also fell to September levels. There were 287 people with COVID-19 in Minnesota hospitals on Wednesday – the first time since September, hospitalization was below 300.

Currently, 54 people need an intensive care bed, the lowest point since spring.

If there is frustration, it is with the speed of vaccinations. Even with the state approaching 1 million vaccinations, the pace seems unable to take off after falling and then to stabilize after a sudden increase in late January.

Although it has risen since then, the general trend line is still not showing a sustained recovery. The current seven-day average is about 28,300 vaccinations per day. Although it is trending in the right direction now, it has not returned to the levels seen in late January and early February.

Authorities have emphasized in recent weeks that the relatively low flow of vaccine supplies from the federal government is the main problem in halting the pace of vaccinations. There is data to back this up.

The Department of Health also warned that the cold spell that now plagues the country will delay vaccine shipments to Minnesota, potentially lowering vaccination counts in the short term.

The state has already postponed consultations at two community vaccination posts scheduled for Thursday and Friday. These delays mean that clinics and consultations across the state have been postponed.

As of Thursday afternoon, about half of the vaccines directed at the state this week – more than 45,000 – were late, most of which was the Modern vaccine.

The state is ranked 23rd among states currently in doses administered by 100,000 people, according to data collected by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 12.8 percent of Minnesota residents had received at least one dose by Tuesday, with about 4.7 percent fully vaccinated. About 38% of Minnesota residents age 65 and older received at least one injection. At the current rate, it would take until September or October to vaccinate 80% of the state’s adults.

Fourteen deaths reported on Thursday increased the death toll from Minnesota to 6,404. Among those who died, about 63 percent lived in long-term care facilities or care facilities; most had latent health problems.

COVID-19 deaths in Minnesota averaged less than 10 a day for the first time since October.

The state has recorded 476,292 confirmed or probable total cases so far in the pandemic, including 928 reported Thursday. About 97 percent of Minnesota residents known to be infected with COVID-19 in the pandemic have recovered to the point that they no longer need to be isolated.

On the whole, the trends offer reason to be encouraged, enough that Governor Tim Walz proclaimed on Wednesday “We are on the way to end the pandemic” by approving the reopening of secondary schools, starting on Monday. “We are winning this thing.”

Still, state health officials continue to monitor new strains of viruses circulating in the United States, which can be more contagious. Walz and other officials have warned that this could lead to an increase in cases.

Kris Ehresmann, the state’s director of infectious diseases, reaffirmed those concerns on Tuesday, noting that Minnesota has now confirmed 40 cases of the UK strain here. “We want to make sure that we are not providing a basis for these variants.”

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told MPR News on Thursday that the variants are very worrying and it is unclear whether they escape immunity from vaccination or natural protection.

Cases spread across age groups, regions

People in their 20s still make up the age group with the highest number of confirmed cases in the state – more than 90,000 since the start of the pandemic, including more than 47,000 among people aged 20 to 24.

The number of school-age youth confirmed with the disease has also grown, with almost 37,000 total cases among those aged 15 to 19 since the start of the pandemic.

Although they are less likely to experience the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts fear that young people and young adults may spread the disease unknowingly to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations.

People can have the coronavirus and spread COVID-19 when they have no symptoms.

Regionally, most parts of Minnesota have dropped significantly since late November, the peak of early December, as well as a peak in January.

Recently, there has been an increase in cases in northwest Minnesota, although the reason is still unclear.

The number of cases is even heavier among people of color

In Minnesota and across the country, COVID-19 hit communities of color disproportionately in cases and deaths. This was especially true for Minnesota residents during much of the pandemic.

Even with the number of new cases dropping since the peaks of late November, early December, data show that Latinos continue to be hit hard.

Mistrust in the government, coupled with deep-seated health and economic disparities, has hampered efforts to increase testing among communities of color, officials say, especially among unauthorized immigrants who fear that their personal information may be used to deport them.

On Thursday, Malcolm also recognized the need to ensure that vaccination opportunities are equitably distributed.

Malcolm said the state will soon release data on vaccination, race and ethnicity. Officials say they are trying to improve the quality of the data. By state law, it was shared voluntarily and, therefore, may be inconsistent.

State health officials discuss Minnesota disease new vaccine eligibility application site:

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COVID-19 in Minnesota

The data in these charts are based on the Minnesota Department of Health cumulative totals released daily at 11 am You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at Department of Health website.

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Latest developments

Fargo, ND, extends the mask’s mandate to the end of March

The Fargo City Commission extended a mask mandate on Wednesday that was set to expire on Thursday.

Local public health officials have asked the city to extend the mask’s mandate, which was first enacted in October. The first cases of the most contagious variant of the virus in the UK were reported this week in North Dakota.

Fargo police said checks by companies in recent weeks had found high rates of compliance with the mask’s mandate. The City Commission will review the mask requirement again on March 22.

– Dan Gunderson | MPR News

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Top headlines

A new vaccine tool will tell Minnesotans when they can take injections of COVID-19: The tool will alert Minnesotans about their eligibility, connect them to resources to schedule an appointment and provide information on vaccination opportunities nearby. Minnesota residents will still have to make an appointment to get an injection through a vaccine supplier.

For the homeless in Ramsey County, hotel rooms offer a safe haven and hope in the midst of the pandemic: Ramsey County officials say there is room for anyone homeless to stay at home. But the consequences of the pandemic are complicating the county’s response.

EMS workers adapt and persist, amid the stress of the pandemic: The pandemic has brought new challenges to Minnesota’s already overburdened emergency medical services. Even the most routine calls are at greater risk – and require more preparation – than before the pandemic. Any call can involve a COVID-19 case.

Minnesota students can return to elementary and high school buildings on Monday: The decision follows new federal protocols on how schools should operate during the pandemic. “It’s time to get our students back to school, and we can do it now safely,” said Governor Tim Walz.

COVID-19 causes an increase in visits to the food shelves among older miners: The biggest increases in the state’s use of the food shelf last year were in the Twin Cities metropolitan areas. But in some rural places, there has been a five-fold increase in visits among people aged 65 and over.