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Live updates: COVID cases, tests dip in Minnesota, rise in Wisconsin

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

ST PAUL, Minn. — Tuesday, Oct. 20

  • MDH worries 'COVID fatigue' playing into spike in cases
  • Judge reinstates Wis. governor's order to limit capacity in establishments
  • U of M moves into third phase of COVID student plan 
  • Gov. Tim Walz announces more saliva testing sites going up this week

2 p.m.

Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (WDHS) reported 4,591 new cases on Tuesday, the most cases reported in a single day since the pandemic began. Tuesday's number brings the total number of confirmed cases statewide to 178,482.

A Twitter post Tuesday by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said the high number is partially due to a system update that occurred over the weekend, so these totals reflect numbers from multiple days. Health officials reported 33 new deaths on Tuesday as the total number of fatalities statewide rises to 1,633. The number of fatalities is approximately 0.9% of those testing positive for the virus. 

Due to high case numbers, Gov. Tony Evers issued an emergency order mandating indoor face coverings that began at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, Evers extended the mask mandate until Nov. 21.

Officials from the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced that they will be resuming some in-person activity on campus after they shifted to all online classes on Wednesday, Sept. 9 for two weeks after seeing a rapid increase in confirmed cases on campus.

On Tuesday, Oct. 6 Gov. Evers' administration issued a new order limiting the size of public indoor gatherings to 25% of capacity, to stem the spread of COVID-19. That order was struck down on Oct. 13 by a judge in Sawyer County but then reinstated on Oct. 19 by a Barron County judge.

11 a.m.

New cases of COVID-19 took a dip Tuesday, according to numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

Health officials say 1,120 cases were reported in the past day, down from 1,632 cases Monday. Tuesday's numbers include cases confirmed by PCR test, and 12 probable cases detected by Antigen test. Those cases were based on a total of 13,903 tests processed in private and state labs.

Minnesota has now recorded 125,531 cases of coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. 

Seven more people have died from COVID-19, bringing the state total to 2,246. Of those deaths 1,583, or 70 percent of them, involve residents in assisted living or long-term care facilities. 

Credit: KARE

The number of Minnesotans hospitalized since the virus entered the state has climbed to 9,042, with 2,451 of those patients being sick enough to require treatment in ICU. 

MDH says 111,634 people who at one time tested positive for COVID have recovered to the point they no longer require isolation. 

Those between the ages of 20 and 24 make up the largest group of Minnesota's coronavirus cases by a significant margin, with 16,068 cases and one death. People from 25 to 29 account for 12,200 cases and three deaths, while 15 to 19-year-olds comprise 11,467 cases with no fatalities. 

The largest group of COVID fatalities involves people ages 85 to 89, with 389 deaths in just 1,691 cases. That means 23% of those from that age group who test positive for the virus die from it. 

Of all counties in the state, Hennepin has the most COVID activity with 32,482 cases and 966 deaths, followed by Ramsey County with 13,357 cases and 347 fatalities. Dakota County reports 9,299 cases and 134 deaths. 

Cook County in northeastern Minnesota has the least COVID activity with 11 cases and no deaths, while Kittson County reports 27 cases. 

RELATED: President Trump says Fauci is 'terrific guy' but not 'team player'

Monday, Oct. 19

2 p.m.

In its regular briefing call on COVID-19 Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported climbing test positivity and case rates across the state.

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the weekly change in cases is up 9.6% this week compared to last week, compared to 8.4% in change from the week prior. That number is not quite as high as it was in July, Malcolm said, but has been heading upward in recent weeks.

The weekly change in testing is up 7.8% from last week, compared to 8% a week ago.

Malcolm said these numbers demonstrate that despite Minnesota's increased testing capacity, case growth is still faster than testing growth.

"We're still not able to catch all the disease that is out there," Malcolm said.

According to MDH, 469 people are hospitalized due to COVID-19 as of Monday, with 137 of them in intensive care.

MDH Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann reiterated public health guidance for those who plan to vote in person in November.

  • Take steps to avoid crowds
  • Wear a mask
  • Stay 6 feet from others
  • Wash your hands before entering and after exiting
  • Use hand sanitizer while in the polling place
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Stay home if you're sick

More information is available on the MDH Safe Voting page.

In response to questions about a push by Republican lawmakers to lift some COVID-19 restrictions, Malcolm said that health officials do not believe it’s time to open more sectors up.

“All places where people gather increases the risk for transmission,” Malcolm said.

As case growth continues as it is or increases, hospitalizations will follow, Malcolm said. Right now, she said, both hospitalizations and mortality are already increasing.

“All of these indicators are going in the wrong direction, which to us does not indicate that we should relax our precautions,” Malcolm said.

Ehresmann added that MDH is concerned not only about cases in the community, but also the effect on health care workers and the ripple effect on long-term care and other sectors.

Regarding upcoming holidays, Malcolm urged Minnesotans to refrain from large gatherings.

"This is not a typical year, and our strongest advice for people would be to take many, many more precautions than they typically do," she said.

Malcolm pointed out that everyone hopes the pandemic will ease by the next holiday season - but this year is especially dangerous. 

"We're in a very high-risk situation," Malcolm said. "So avoiding those family gatherings, however painful it may be, would be the prudent choice."

Ehresmann added that MDH is focusing on reducing risk rather than eliminating risk. She offered these suggestions:

  • Keep gatherings small, with groups of 10 or less
  • Consider social distancing and wearing masks indoors

Malcolm said that the increase of COVID-19 cases in Minnesota cannot be traced to one industry or type of event.

"The transmission is everywhere," Malcolm said. "It's these individual decisions that we're all making that is ... fueling the rate of increase that we're seeing."

11 a.m.

Numbers released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) show 1,632 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the last 24-hour reporting period, bringing the total number of Minnesotans to test positive for the virus to 124,439. 

MDH says those new cases are based on 21,171 tests processed (both PCR and Antigen) in private and state labs. In all, 2,511,395 tests have been processed since the onset of the pandemic. 

Five more Minnesotans have died from the virus, bringing total fatalities to 2,239. Of those deaths 1,578, or 70% of them have occurred in long-term or assisted living settings.

Credit: KARE

State health officials say 109,963 people who at one time tested positive for coronavirus have recovered to the point they no longer need isolation. 

Currently the total number of people who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic sits at 8,916, with 2,414 requiring care in the ICU. MDH statistics reflect 50 new patients reported in the past day.

Those between the ages of 20 and 24 make up Minnesota's largest case grouping with 15,978 testing positive. One person from that age group has died. People between 25 and 29 account for 12,108 cases and three deaths, while ages 15 to 19 comprise 11,395 cases and zero deaths.

The age group with the most coronavirus fatalities is those between 85 and 89, with 388 deaths in just 1,674 diagnosed cases. 

Hennepin County has the most COVID activity, with 32,274 cases and 965 fatalities, followed by Ramsey County with 13,280 and 347 deaths. Dakota County reports 9,230 cases and 133 deaths. 

Currently Cook County in northeastern Minnesota has the least COVID activity with 11 cases, a number that has been creeping up in recent days. Kittson County has 27 cases.

KARE 11’s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit kare11.com/coronavirus for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about the Midwest specifically, learn more about the symptoms, and see what businesses are open as the state slowly lifts restrictions. Have a question? Text it to us at 763-797-7215. And get the latest coronavirus updates sent right to your inbox every morning. Subscribe to the KARE 11 Sunrise newsletter here. Help local families in need: www.kare11.com/give11

The state of Minnesota has set up a data portal online at mn.gov/covid19.

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