MDH reports sharp rise in the number of cumulative COVID-19 cases in the state; Mower County now at 1,165 cumulative cases

The Minnesota Department of Health reported Thursday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to 1,806, while a sharp rise in cumulative cases in the state has pushed the total to over 72,000.

Health officials indicated that the state now has a total of 72,390 positive COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, which was up 1,158 from 71,236 on Wednesday, and the 1,806 deaths due to the virus was up 13 from 1,793 on Wednesday.  It is the second straight day of double-digit increases in the number of COVID-19 related deaths in Minnesota, and Health officials added that 1,331 of those deaths have been from cases that resided in long-term or assisted living facilities, 16 more than the 1,315 such deaths reported on Wednesday.  Mower County recorded 1,165 cumulative COVID-19 cases Thursday, up three from 1,162 on Wednesday, Olmsted County now has 1,958 cumulative cases, up 11 from 1,947 on Wednesday, and Steele County reported 407 cases Thursday, up six from 401 on Wednesday.  Freeborn County now has 394 cumulative positive COVID-19 cases, up four from 390 on Wednesday, Dodge County now has 150 cases, up three from 147 on Wednesday and Fillmore County recorded 83 cases for the second straight day.

305 patients were being hospitalized for COVID-19 in Minnesota as of Thursday, which was up one from 304 on Wednesday and 139 of those patients were being treated in intensive care units, up five from 134 on Wednesday.  64,876 patients in Minnesota no longer need to be isolated.