MDH reports number of COVID-19 deaths in the state nearing 1,500; total number of cases rises above 40,700; Mower County with two new COVID-19 cases

The Minnesota Department of Health reported Friday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to 1,495, while the total number of positive cases in the state has risen to over 40,700.

Health officials indicated that the state now has a total of 40,767 positive cases, which was up 609 from the 40,163 cases reported on Thursday, and the 1,495 deaths due to the virus was up five from 1,490 on Thursday, which is the 16th time in the last 18 days Minnesota has been below 10 or more coronavirus deaths in a 24-hour period.  They added that 1,166 COVID-19 related deaths so far in Minnesota have been from long-term or assisted living facilities.  Mower County recorded two new positive COVID-19 cases Friday for a total of 974, Olmsted County continues to see its number of cases rise as they reported 1,235 cases Friday, up 39 from 1,196 on Thursday and Rice County recorded 873 cases Friday, 11 more than 862 on Thursday.  Blue Earth County now has 544 positive COVID-19 cases, up nine from 535 on Thursday, Freeborn County recorded 309 cases Friday, up seven from 302 on Thursday and Steele County reported 243 cases Friday, up three from 243 on Thursday.

Goodhue County edged up to 138 cases Friday, up one from 137 on Thursday, Dodge County now has 97 cases, up four from 93 on Thursday and Waseca County reported 75 cases Friday, up two from 73 on Thursday.  Wabasha County now has 35 cases, up one from 34 on Thursday, Fillmore County reported 31 cases Friday, up one from 30 on Thursday and Houston County remained at 29 cases for a second straight day.