MDH reports total number of COVID-19 related deaths just shy of 900; total number of positive cases nearing 22,000; Mower County sees another double digit increase in number of positive cases

The Minnesota Department of Health announced Tuesday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus has risen to just shy of 900, while the total number of positive cases in the state is nearing 22,000.

Health officials reported that the state now has a total of 21,960 positive cases, which was up 652 from the 21,315 cases reported on Monday, and the 899 deaths due to the virus was up 18 from the 881 reported on Monday.  They added that 732 COVID-19 related deaths thus far in Minnesota have been from cases that resided in long-term or assisted living facilities.  Mower County saw another double digit increase in its number of positive cases Tuesday with 17 more for a total of 206, while Olmsted County has 570 cases, up eight from 562 recorded on Monday.  Rice County again saw a double-digit increase in its number of positive cases with 396 Tuesday, up from 386 on Monday, Steele County recorded 144 cases Tuesday, Blue Earth County now has 119 positive cases, up from 115 on Monday and Freeborn County recorded 97 cases Tuesday, up four from 93 on Monday.  Winona County remained at 78 cases for the second day in a row, Goodhue County now has 58 cases, up from 55 on Monday  and Dodge County has 46 cases, up two from 44 on Monday.  Waseca County saw its number of positive cases drop from 25 Monday to 24 on Tuesday, Fillmore and Wabasha Counties each have 17 cases, and Houston County continues to report two.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 2,709 cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota, with 570 patients hospitalized as of Tuesday, and 258 patients were being treated in intensive care units.  2,427 healthcare workers in Minnesota have tested positive for coronavirus, and 15,523 patients no longer need to be isolated.  The total approximate number of COVID-19 tests administered in Minnesota now stands at 209,898 and counting.