MDH reports 1,274 COVID-19 related deaths; total number of cases rises above 29,795; Mower County sees increase of 30 or more cases for third straight day

The Minnesota Department of Health reported Friday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to 1,274, while the total number of positive cases in the state has eclipsed 29,700.

Health officials indicated  that the state now has a total of 29,795 positive cases, which was up 490 from the 29,316 reported on Thursday, and the 1,274 deaths due to the virus was up 25 from 1,249 on Thursday.  They added that 1,015 COVID-19 related deaths thus far in Minnesota have been from cases that resided in long-term or assisted living facilities.  For the third day in a row, Mower County saw an increase of 30 or more positive cases of COVID-19 with 638, up 34 from 604 on Thursday.  Olmsted County has 765 cases, up 13 from 752 on Thursday, Rice County saw a huge jump in its number of positive cases Friday with 685, an increase of 81 from 604 on Thursday and Freeborn County also saw a double-digit increase in its number of cases with 217, up 17 from 200 on Thursday.  Steele County recorded 175 cases Friday, up two from 173 on Thursday, Blue Earth County reported 159 cases, up two from 157 on Thursday and Goodhue County reported 92 cases Friday, up six from 86 on Thursday.  Dodge County reported 58 cases Friday, up one from 57 on Thursday, Waseca County now has 33 cases, up one from 32 on Thursday and Wabasha County recorded 21 cases Friday, up one from 20 on Thursday.  Fillmore County again reported 20 cases, and Houston County is still reporting five.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 3,557 cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota, with a total of 403 patients hospitalized as of Friday, and 191 patients were being treated in intensive care units.  3,102 healthcare workers in Minnesota have tested positive for COVID-19, and 25,028 patients no longer need to be isolated.  The total approximate number of COVID-19 tests administered thus far in Minnesota since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic stands at 395,202 and counting.