MDH reports number of COVID-19 related deaths climbs to near 1,000; total number of positive cases now over 23,500; Mower County sees another spike in its number of positive cases

The Minnesota Department of Health announced Friday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to just shy of 1,000, and the total number of positive cases in the state has eclipsed 23,500.

Health officials reported that the state now has a total of 23,531 positive cases, which was up 590 from the 22,947 reported on Thursday, and the 996 deaths due to the virus was up 29 from the 967 reported on Thursday.  They added that 811 COVID-19 related deaths thus far in MInnesota have been from cases that resided in long-term or assisted living facilities.  Mower County saw yet another large spike in the number of positive cases in the county Friday with 254, up 23 from the 231 reported on Thursday.  Olmsted County reported 594 cases Friday, up 12 from 582 on Thursday and Rice County again saw a double-digit increase in its number of positive cases  Friday with 438, up 15 from 423 on Thursday.  Steele County recorded 153 cases Friday, up four from 149 cases Thursday, Blue Earth County now has 137 cases, up 11 from 126 cases on Thursday and Freeborn County reported 108 cases Friday, up six from 102 on Thursday.  Winona County reported 79 cases Friday, up one from 78 Thursday, Goodhue County saw its number of positive COVID-19 cases increase from 60 on Thursday to 62 on Friday and Dodge County recorded 50 cases Friday, up four from 46 on Thursday.  Waseca County has 26 cases, up one from 25 Thursday, Wabasha and Fillmore Counties each reported 17 cases again on Friday and Houston County is still reporting two.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 2,936 cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota with 592 patients hospitalized as of Friday, and 259 patients were being treated in intensive care units.  2,603 healthcare workers have now tested positive for COVID-19, and 16,930 patients no longer need to be isolated.  The total approximate number of COVID-19 tests administered in Minnesota now stands at 233,873 and counting.