MDH reports number of COVID-19 deaths has eclipsed 1,100; total number of positive cases rises to over 26,000; Mower County sees large spike in its number of positive cases

The Minnesota Department of Health reported Thursday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has eclipsed 1,100, and the total number of positive cases in the state has risen to over 26,000.

Health officials indicated that the state now has a total of 26,273 positive cases, which was up 404 from the 25,870 reported on Wednesday, and the 1,115 deaths due to the virus was up 29 from 1,086 on Wednesday.  They added that 896 COVID-19 related deaths thus far in Minnesota have been from cases that resided in long-term or assisted living facilities.  Mower County saw a large jump in its number of positive cases Thursday with 406, up 40 from 366 on Wednesday.  Olmsted County now has 672 caes, up 18 from 654 on Wednesday, Rice County saw an increase of only three cases from 480 Wednesday to 483 on Thursday, and Steele County remained at 167 cases for the second day in a row.  Blue Earth County remained at 148 cases Thursday, Freeborn County saw a double-digit increase in its number of positive COVID-19 cases with 142, up 12 from 130 on Wednesday, and Winona County stayed at 80 cases for the fourth day in a row on Thursday.  Goodhue County recorded 71 cases Thursday, up one from 70 on Wednesday, Dodge County stayed at 53 cases for the fourth straight day and Waseca County remained at 27 cases Thursday.  Wabasha County continues to report 18 cases, Fillmore County again reported 17 on Thursday and Houston County is still reporting two.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 3,253 cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota, with a total of 512 patients being hospitalized as of Thursday, and 244 patients were being treated in intensive care units.  2,851 healthcare workers in Minnesota have tested positive for COVID-19, and 21,490 patients no longer need to be isolated.  The total approximate number of COVID-19 tests administered thus far in Minnesota stands at 275,622 and counting.