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Live updates: MDH reports 629 new COVID-19 cases in Minnesota, with case positivity on the rise

Here are the latest updates on COVID-19 in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Wednesday, Aug. 5

2 p.m.

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the testing positivity rate is now 5.2%, which is an increase from 4.9% last week.

The gap between the growth of testing and positivity is narrowing, Malcolm said.

Malcolm highlighted the importance of continuing vaccinations for other diseases as the fall approaches.

Malcolm said that parents may be concerned of going into a clinic to get vaccines for their kids because of COVID-19, but she encourages them to still do so since safety measures are put in place to continue medical practices while preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

11 a.m.

The Minnesota Department of Health reported that 629 Minnesotans have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours of reporting. This brings the total positive cases to 57,779. 

Nine more Minnesotans have died due to COVID-19, bringing the total death count to 1,629. Of those deaths, 1,237 of them were in cases that resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities. 

Credit: KARE
This chart shows the positivity rate of COVID-19 in Minnesota through July 27. Positivity rates have been at 5% or higher since July 23.

This chart shows the positivity rate of COVID-19 in Minnesota through July 27.

Positivity rates have been at 5% or higher since July 23.

There are currently 305 people hospitalized and 152 of them are in the ICU. A total of 5,373 patients have needed to be hospitalized throughout the pandemic.

Those between the ages of 20 and 29 remain the largest group of Minnesota COVID-19 case with 13,637 and four deaths from the virus. People between 30 and 39 account for 10,651 cases and 14 deaths, while those from 80 to 89 make up just 1,896 of the cases but account for 545 deaths. Many of those deaths occurred in congregate care facilities. 

Hennepin County is responsible for 32% of Minnesota's total COVID-19 cases, reporting 18,393 with 825 fatalities. Ramsey County reports 7,130 cases and 261 deaths, with Dakota County at 4,112 cases and 104 deaths.

Tuesday, Aug. 4

  • MDH: 606 confirmed COVID cases on fewer tests
  • CDC invites Minnesota to join 4-state COVID-19 vaccine pilot
  • Sturgis Rally to go on despite virus, expecting 250K

1:45 p.m.

Gov. Tim Walz toured the Central Minnesota Council on Aging on Tuesday to highlight the state's efforts to provide masks to people who need them.

The Walz administration has partnered with community organizations to distribute nearly 400,000 cloth masks to Minnesotans who can't afford one, or can't easily obtain one. The effort comes after the statewide mask mandate was implemented two weeks ago.

Walz visited Sartell to talk about the program on Tuesday afternoon, along with the Central Minnesota Council on Aging Executive Director Lori Vrolson.

"We take care of people, and that's what we do in Minnesota, and that's what we'll continue to do," Vrolson said.

Walz said 7,500 masks will be distributed from that facility and be mailed to people who need them, among the 400,000 total.

Health officials say 51,223 people who at one time tested positive for the coronavirus have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation.

11 a.m.

Another 606 Minnesotans have tested positive for COVID-19, according to new numbers released Tuesday by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). That is a relatively high count when considering it is based on just 8,060 completed tests, approximately half the number reported Monday. 

MDH says the number of Minnesotans that have tested positive for the virus since the onset of the pandemic is now at 57,162. On Monday state health officials voiced concern that case numbers here and around the country are rising instead of falling at this time, and called developments "sobering."

Four more Minnesotans have lost their lives to COVID-19, bringing total fatalities in the state to 1,620. Of those deaths 1,233, or 76% occurred at long-term or assisted living care facilities.

Currently 328 people are being treated for the virus in hospitals across Minnesota, the highest number since June 26. MDH says 159 of those patients are being cared for in the ICU.

Health officials say 50,426 people who at one time tested positive for the coronavirus have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation.

Those between the ages of 20 and 29 remain the largest group of Minnesota COVID-19 case with 13,488 and four deaths from the virus. People between 30 and 39 account for 10,542 cases and 14 deaths, while those from 80 to 89 make up just 1,887 of the cases but account for 542 deaths. Many of those deaths occurred in congregate care facilities. 

Hennepin County is responsible for 32% of Minnesota's total COVID-19 cases, reporting 18,197 with 820 fatalities. Ramsey County reports 7,047 cases and 261 deaths, with Dakota County at 4,049 cases and 103 deaths.

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