MDH reports total number of COVID-19 related deaths has risen to 319; total number of positive cases eclipses 4,600

Health officials in Minnesota reported Wednesday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to 319, while the total number of positive cases has soared past 4,600.

The Minnesota Department of Health reported that the state now has a total of 4,644 positive cases, an increase of 465 from the 4,181 reported on Tuesday.  The 319 deaths due to the virus was up 18 from the 301 reported on Tuesday.  Mower County again reported 28 positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, while Olmsted County reported 256 cases on Wednesday, up five from the 251 reported on Tuesday.  Winona County again reported 66 cases, Freeborn and Blue Earth Counties each reported 34 cases on Wednesday and Dodge and Goodhue Counties each had 19.  Steele County reported 15 cases Wednesday, up one from 14 reported on Tuesday, Rice County reported 12 cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, up from 11 on Tuesday, Waseca County reported four cases for the second day in a row and Houston County continued to report one.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 950 total cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota, with 320 patients  hospitalized as of Wednesday, and 119 patients are being hospitalized in intensive care.  2,043 patients no longer need to be isolated, and the total approximate number of completed tests in Minnesota stands at 66,744 and counting.