March 23 update on COVID-19 in MN: Vaccination pace flat; active cases trend higher
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3 things to know
26 percent with at least 1 vaccine dose; 15 percent completely vaccinated
479 cases of U.K. strain identified so far; variants dominating new caseloads
Younger people at “leading edge” of variant spread
Updated: 2:42 p.m.
Minnesota’s newest COVID-19 data shows the state’s vaccination pace staying flat while active cases and hospitalizations rise.
The Health Department on Tuesday reported about 11,400 more vaccinations. While that’s higher last Tuesday, the seven-day vaccination trend is still running at around 41,000 shots daily, roughly what it’s been for the past few weeks.
The flat pace may end up only a short-term concern since Minnesota expects to see federal vaccine shipments jump next week and into April. But that bump can’t come soon enough.
Officials are increasingly anxious about rising cases tied to the highly contagious U.K. COVID-19 variant and to youth sports. On Tuesday, they said they’ve confirmed 479 cases of the U.K. strain, adding that it’s becoming a growing piece of the new COVID-19 caseloads.
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“It is already dominating” the most recent case growth, Dr. Ruth Lynfield, the state’s epidemiologist, told reporters. Cases among youth are the "leading edge of the spread of variants,” she said, adding that it may be because of their interactions or the lack of vaccination.
Nearly 855,000 people — about 15.4 percent of the state’s population — have completed their vaccinations, while more than 1.4 million — 25.8 percent — have received at least one dose, including about 79 percent of people age 65 and older.
For those who’ve received a complete vaccination, the results look good so far. Of the more than 800,000 people completely vaccinated, the state’s identified only 89 who’ve subsequently tested positive for COVID-19, officials said Tuesday.
Uptick in active cases; worrisome regional outbreaks
Disease conditions remain relatively stable compared to the late fall surge, but caution lights are flashing.
The number of known, active is cases is rising again. Tuesday’s data showed 10,102 active cases — marking five consecutive days with active counts above 10,000, a stretch not seen since late January.
While that’s still low compared to late November and early December, the increase is notable given the worries over the rise of the so-called U.K. COVID-19 strain. State health officials suspect the U.K. variant is driving the current upswing.
Hospitalizations are still low compared to the late-fall surge, but those counts are creeping up as well. Health Department data showed 325 people with COVID-19 in Minnesota hospitals; 87 needed intensive care. That’s the highest number of ICU patients since late January.
Seven deaths reported on Tuesday — including a person in their 20s — raised Minnesota’s collective toll to 6,789. Among those who’ve died, about 63 percent had been living in long-term care or assisted living facilities; most had underlying health problems.
The state has recorded 507,231 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including 870 reported Tuesday. About 97 percent of Minnesotans known to be infected with COVID-19 in the pandemic have recovered to the point where they no longer need to be isolated.
Cases spread across age groups, regions
People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the state’s largest number of confirmed cases — some 95,000 since the pandemic began, including nearly 50,000 among those ages 20 to 24.
The number of high school-age youth confirmed with the disease has also grown, with more than 40,000 total cases among those ages 15 to 19 since the pandemic began.
With kids increasingly returning to school buildings and sports, Minnesota public health officials are urging Minnesota families with children to get tested every two weeks for COVID-19 now until the end of the school year.
Although young people are less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts worry youth will spread it unknowingly to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations. Those with the coronavirus can spread it when they don’t have symptoms.
Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in significantly better shape than they were in late November and early December. Some areas are seeing upticks in cases.
Public health leaders continue to keep close watch on hot spots in the southwest Twin Cities metro — specifically Carver and Scott counties — as well as the Mankato area and the eastern Iron Range, centered around the town of Aurora.
The state is recommending young people across the state be tested every two weeks for COVID-19, with student athletes tested weekly; officials are also asking everyone in Carver County to get tested.
Caseloads among people of color
In Minnesota and across the country, COVID-19 has hit communities of color disproportionately hard in both cases and deaths. That’s been especially true for Minnesotans of Hispanic descent for much of the pandemic.
Even as new case counts continue to track well below their late November, early December peaks, the data shows Latino people continue to be hit hard.
Distrust of the government, together with deeply rooted health and economic disparities, have hampered efforts to boost testing among communities of color, officials say, especially among unauthorized immigrants who fear their personal information may be used to deport them.
Gov. Tim Walz has acknowledged that distrust by communities of color has been a problem during the pandemic. Officials have offered up some data on vaccinations broken down by race and ethnicity. The state is updating the data weekly.
Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm has said the state is committed to doing more to expand vaccine access to people of color, including getting more doses to community pharmacies, partnering with local groups and deploying mobile vaccination clinics.
COVID-19 in Minnesota
Data in these graphs are based on the Minnesota Department of Health's cumulative totals released at 11 a.m. daily. You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at the Health Department website.
Latest developments
New vaccination site opening in Mankato
The state of Minnesota will open a seventh permanent COVID-19 community vaccination site this week in Mankato.
The site will be at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in downtown Mankato. It joins existing COVID-19 vaccination sites in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Rochester, St. Cloud and Duluth.
Those state sites are just one option for eligible Minnesotans to get the vaccine, along with pharmacies, clinics and pop-up vaccination events. More information is available on the state's Vaccine Connector website.
— MPR News staff