MDH reports total number of COVID-19 related deaths rises to 748; total number of positive cases now over 17,000; Mower County now reporting 72 cases

The Minnesota Department of Health announced Tuesday that the total number of deaths due to the COVID-19, or coronavirus now totals 748, while the total number of positive cases in the state has risen to over 17,000.

Health officials reported that the state now has a total of 17,029 cases, which was up 665 from the 16,372 reported on Monday, and the 748 deaths due to the virus was up 17 from the 731 reported on Monday.  They added that 608 COVID-19 related deaths thus far in Minnesota have been from cases that resided in long-term or assisted living facilities.  Mower County is now reporting 72 positive COVID-19 cases, an increase of seven from the 65 reported on Monday, and Olmsted County now has 479 cases, up 18 from 461 reported on Monday.  Rice County’s total of positive COVID-19 cases continues to rise, as the county reported 270 cases Tuesday, up ten from 260 on Monday, and Steele County reported 115 cases Tuesday, up four from the 111 reported on Monday.  Winona County reported 75 cases for the third day in a row Tuesday, Freeborn County has 63 cases, up from 61 on Monday and Dodge County reported 39 cases Tuesday, up from 36 on Monday.  Goodhue County has 36 cases, which was up from 34 on Monday, Waseca County reported 21 cases, up one from 20 reported on Monday, Wabasha County reported 16 cases Tuesday and Houston County continued to report two.

The Department of Health reported that there are now 2,221 cases involving hospitalization in Minnesota, with 545 patients hospitalized as of Tuesday, and 229 patients were being treated in intensive care units.  1,949 healthcare workers in Minnesota have tested positive for COVID-19, and 11,540 patients no longer need to be isolated.  The total approximate number of COVID-19 tests in Minnesota now stands at 161,835 and counting.