MDH reports number of COVID-19 deaths rises to 343; number of positive cases now over 5,100, Mower County remains at 28 cases

Health officials in Minnesota reported Thursday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to 343, while the total number of positive cases has risen past 5,100.

The Minnesota Department of Health reported that the state now has a total of 5,136 positive cases, an increase of 492 from the 4,644 reported on Wednesday.  The 343 deaths due to the virus was up 24 from the 319 reported on Wednesday.  For the seventh day in a row, Mower County reported 28 positive cases of COVID-19, while Olmsted County had 265 cases on Thursday, up nine from the 256 reported on Wednesday.  Winona County again reported 66 cases, Blue Earth County saw its number of positive cases rise from 34 on Wednesday to 38 on Thursday, and Freeborn County continued to report 34 cases.  Dodge County had 21 cases on Thursday, up from 19 on Wednesday, Goodhue County again reported 19 and Steele County reported 16 cases Thursday, up from 15 on Wednesday.  Rice County saw its number of positive COVID-19 cases rise from 12 on Wednesday to 14 on Thursday, Waseca County again reported four cases and Houston County is still reporting one.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 1,044 total cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota, with 365 patients hospitalized as of Thursday, and 130 patients are being treated in intensive care units.  2,172 patients  no longer need to be isolated, and the total approximate number of completed tests in Minnesota stands at 70,276 and counting.