MDH reports largest one-day increases in COVID-19 related deaths and positive cases since the start of the pandemic; Mower County sees biggest one-day increase in positive cases with 25 for a total of 112

The Minnesota Department of Health announced Friday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to 842, while the total number of positive cases in the state has jumped to over 19,000.

Health officials reported that the state now has a total of 19,005 cases, which was up 813 from the 18,200 reported on Thursday, and it is the largest one-day increase in positive cases thus far during the pandemic.  The 842 deaths due to the virus was up 33 from the 809 reported on Thursday, and it is the largest one-day death total since the start of the pandemic.  They added that 688 COVID-19 related deaths thus far in Minnesota have been from cases that resided in long-term or assisted living facilities.  Mower County saw its number of positive COVID-19 cases jump from 87 on Thursday to 112 on Friday, and Olmsted County has eclipsed 500 positive cases with 525 reported on Friday, up from 493 on Thursday.  Rice County saw another double-digit increase in its number of positive cases with 328 reported on Friday, up 21 from 307 on Thursday, and Steele County reported 134 cases Friday, up 12 from 122 on Thursday.  Blue Earth County reported 108 cases, and both Freeborn and Winona Counties reported 76 cases Friday. Goodhue County has 43 cases, up three from 40 reported on Thursday and Dodge County reported 41 cases Friday, up from 40 on Thursday.  Waseca County has 23 positive COVID-19 cases, up from 22 on Thursday, Fillmore County remained at 17 cases Friday, Wabasha County still has 16 and Houston County is still reporting two.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 2,432 cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota, with 534 patients hospitalized as of Friday, and 233 patients were being treated in intensive care units.  2,216 healthcare workers in Minnesota have tested positive for COVID-19, and 12,696 patients no longer need to be isolated.  The total approximate number of COVID-19 tests administered in Minnesota now stands at 180,971 and counting.