3 things to know:
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More than 675,000 Minnesota residents received at least one dose of vaccine
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2 new deaths reported on Monday; 611 new cases registered
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The test’s positivity rate is at its lowest level since last summer
Updated: 11h53
Key COVID-19 measurements in Minnesota continue to show improvements, as the number of state residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine exceeds 675,000.
The Minnesota Department of Health reported two deaths on Monday, the lowest since February 1, bringing the seven-day average slightly to less than 11 deaths per day. The state also registered 611 new confirmed cases.
The test’s positivity rate also remained stable at 2.9 percent, just above Minnesota’s record low of 2.76 percent on June 20, 2020.
COVID-19 vaccinations increase week after week, leading to a gradual increase in the state’s average daily vaccination rate. More than 12 percent of Minnesota residents received at least the first injection of the vaccine, given until Saturday.
The increase in vaccinations is overwhelmingly concentrated among Minnesota residents, of whom almost a third have received at least one injection.
Just over 4 percent of Minnesota residents of all ages received both doses to complete the vaccination.
In total, almost 915,000 doses of vaccines have been administered in the state.
The state is at an all-time high for the number of doses administered in three days after receipt by providers, although the state is only short of its target of 90 percent of doses in three days.
On Sunday, Minnesota ranked 24th among states in doses administered by 100,000 people, according to data collected by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That was from 28 on Saturday. With the increase in federal vaccine shipments, the pace of vaccinations may increase in the coming days.
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.
State health officials continue to monitor new strains of viruses circulating in the United States, which may be more contagious. The authorities warned that this could lead to an increase in cases.
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 89,000 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 more than 36,000 cases in total between 15 and 19 years since the pandemic began.
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.
Something worth watching: there has been an increase in cases in northwest Minnesota recently, although it is not clear why. All other regions of the state have seen a decline in cases.
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, along 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 could be used to deport them.
Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm also acknowledged on Thursday 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.
COVID-19 in Minnesota
The data in these graphs are based on the cumulative Minnesota Health Department totals released daily at 11 am You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at Department of Health website.
Latest developments
St. Cloud VA starts vaccinating essential workers
The St. Cloud VA Health Care System is now offering the COVID-19 vaccine to veterans who are also essential frontline workers.
St. Cloud VA has vaccinated its healthcare professionals, long-term residents and veterans aged 75 and over. VA employees are now scheduling vaccines for registered veterans who are essential frontline workers, regardless of age or health status. They include rescuers, teachers, grocers, postal workers, correctional officers and those working in food, agriculture, manufacturing and public transport.
JD Anderson, head of pharmacy at St. Cloud, said they saw great interest among veterans in receiving the vaccine.
“I think we have had two fouls in the past two days, although we have kept stable below zero temps,” said Anderson. “We have a very resistant group that is very anxious to receive the vaccination.”
Anderson added that the VA is preparing to move on to the next phase, which includes veterans aged 65 and over and those with underlying health problems.
– Kirsti Marohn | MPR News
Walz’s emergency powers were extended, again, for another month
DFL Governor Tim Walz again extended his emergency powers to coordinate Minnesota’s response to the pandemic.
The latest extension until March 15 means Minnesota will be in a peacetime emergency for at least a year.
Walz said the Democrats who control the House are willing to deal with issues like a state face covering the mandate. But he said the Republicans who control the state Senate have refused to act, leaving no choice but to issue executive orders.
“If I don’t want hundreds of thousands of miners to be evicted, if I don’t have the ability to ask for PPE and change the national guard to give vaccine, all of that would end the emergency orders being used by 49 out of 50 governors are brought back, “said the governor.
Walz first signed an executive order last March that allows him to streamline contracts, mobilize the National Guard and make other unilateral decisions to control the pandemic. In his latest request, Walz said the increase in vaccination and recent trends in infection leave him with the hope that the pandemic is starting to subside.
– Brian Bakst and Mark Zdechlik | MPR News
Top headlines
Minnesota trying to recover to vaccinate black elderly: Minnesota is trying to solve two problems at the same time – vaccinating as many elderly people as possible as quickly as possible and, at the same time, ensuring that the racial and ethnic communities most affected by the virus have access to vaccines.
The Portrait project highlights community connections during the pandemic: Katie Howie photographed more than 115 people for her project, “By a Thread: Pandemic Portraits.” She describes the project as a living story, because the people she photographs also share thoughts about their lives during the pandemic.
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