MDH reports four additional deaths; 19 additional COVID-19 cases in Mower County Friday for cumulative total of 1,473

The Minnesota Department of Health has now reported over 119,300 positive COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic.

Health officials reported 2,297 positive tests Friday, bringing the cumulative statewide total to 119,396. The 2,297 positive tests marked the largest single day spike in COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. The state’s record-breaking case numbers come on a Thursday testing volume that more than doubled the usual test volume over recent days. Over 43,000 COVID-19 tests were processed Thursday, a new high for the state, and 5.27 percent of those tests came back positive.  Health officials stated that 12,169 healthcare workers in the state have now tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began.  More than 105,100 people were reported as no longer needing isolation.  

Mower County reported four additional COVID-19 related deaths Friday for a total of 11 since the start of the pandemic.  Mower County Community Health Division Manager Pam Kellogg reported that three of the four deaths were probable cases that passed away at the beginning of the month, but there was a delay in reporting. The cases ranged in age from 80 to 100 years old and all were living in a long term care facility. The fourth death was an individual between the ages of 65-69 living in a private residence.  Mower County also reported 1,455 confirmed and 18 probable COVID-19 cases Friday for a cumulative total of 1,473, up 19 from Thursday.   Olmsted County now has 2,979 cumulative cases, a spike of 68 from Thursday, Steele County recorded 692 cases Friday, up 22 from Thursday and Freeborn County now has 618 cumulative COVID-19 cases, up 21 from Thursday.  Dodge County reported 349 cases Friday, up nine from Thursday and Fillmore County now has 223 cases, up 12 from Thursday.

Minnesota’s death toll from the coronavirus rose by 13 Friday for a cumulative total of 2,212 since the start of the pandemic, and health officials reported that 1,559 COVID-19 related deaths thus far in the state have been from cases that resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities.  

A total of 8,718 patients in Minnesota have required hospitalization since the pandemic began, and 2,375 of those patients have required treatment in intensive care units.