MDH reports number of COVID-19 related deaths rises to 638; total number of positive cases eclipses 12,900; Mower County now with 48 cases

The Minnesota Department of Health announced Wednesday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to 638, while the total number of positive cases in the state has risen to over 12,900.

Health officials reported that the state now has a total of 12,917 positive cases, which was up 431 from the 12,494 reported on Tuesday, and the 638 deaths due to the virus was up 24 from the 614 reported on Tuesday.  They added that 517 COVID-19 related deaths thus far in Minnesota have been from cases that resided in long-term or assisted living facilities.  Mower County reported three more positive COVID-19 cases Wednesday for a total of 48, while Olmsted County reported 385 cases, up seven from 378 on Tuesday.  Rice County saw a double-digit rise again in its number of positive cases Wednesday with 153, up 17 from 134 on Tuesday, and Steele County reported 77 cases on Wednesday, up four from 73 on Tuesday.  Winona County has 72 cases, up from 71 on Tuesday, Blue Earth County now has 69 cases, up from 67 on Tuesday and Freeborn County now has 47 positive COVID-19 cases, up one from 46 on Tuesday.  Goodhue County reported 27 cases Wednesday, up from 26 on Tuesday and Dodge County remained at 26.  Waseca County now has 18 cases, up from 16 on Tuesday and Houston County continued to report two.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 1,851 total cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota, with 494 patients hospitalized as of Wednesday, and for the second day in a row, 199 patients were being treated in intensive care units.  1,532 healthcare workers in Minnesota have tested positive for COVID-19, and 8.787 patients no longer need to be isolated.  The total approximate number of tests in Minnesota now stands at 122,035 and counting.