May 19 update on COVID-19 in MN: Active caseloads falling; vaccination pace crawling
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3 things to know
61.9 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older with at least one vaccine dose; 53.7 percent — more than 2.3 million people — are now completely vaccinated
Average count of new cases stays below 1,000 a day
Vaccination pace struggling for traction
Updated: 2:59 p.m.
Wednesday’s state Health Department data offers more evidence that COVID-19 is in retreat after a spring surge. But vaccinations are only inching forward now, raising concerns that hundreds of thousands of Minnesota adults might choose to go unvaccinated.
That concern is overshadowing an overall positive pandemic picture. The latest numbers show new case counts below 700 a day for the past three days — the first time that’s happened since late February — while active case counts and hospitalizations are retreating.
Even as they ended Minnesota’s statewide mask-wearing order last week, officials acknowledged the need to do more to get shots into the arms of Minnesota adults who still don’t have them.
Active cases, hospitalizations trending down
Despite concerns around the sputtering vaccination rate, the overall pandemic picture continues to brighten.
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As of Wednesday, the count of known, active COVID-19 cases came in at 7,000, the lowest level since March 9. Active cases have fallen by half over the past two weeks and are down nearly two-thirds from their most recent high of around 20,000 in mid-April.
There were 420 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Minnesota; 112 needed intensive care. Both figures continue to trend down from their April peaks. New hospital admissions have dropped significantly and are trending at six-week lows.
Fifteen newly reported deaths Wednesday brought Minnesota’s pandemic toll to 7,325. Among those who have died, about 60 percent had been living in long-term care or assisted-living facilities; most had underlying health problems.
The state has recorded 596,186 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including the 658 posted Wednesday — the third consecutive day of fewer than 700 new daily cases.
About 98 percent of Minnesotans known to be infected with COVID-19 in the pandemic have recovered to the point where they no longer need to isolate.
Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in better shape than they were in late November and early December. Case counts had crept up across the state during April, but the trend is clearly on the slide.
Officials continue to implore Minnesotans to keep their guard up during proms, graduations and other spring events, noting that more contagious COVID-19 variants are driving new cases across the state.
Concern about youth, young adult counts
While the overall trends are solid, officials are increasingly concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in younger people. They’ve been urging more testing of middle and high school students and weekly testing for athletes, coaches, referees and other youth sports participants.
People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the state’s largest number of confirmed cases — more than 110,000 since the pandemic began.
The number of high school-age youth confirmed with the disease has also grown, with more than 48,000 15-to-19-year-olds known to be infected during the pandemic.
Although young people are less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts worry they will spread it unknowingly to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations. Those with the COVID-19 virus can spread it when they don’t have symptoms.
Vaccination pace remains stagnant
More than 2.7 million residents 16 and older now have at least one vaccine dose; more than 2.3 million have completed their vaccinations as of Wednesday’s update.
That works out to about 53.7 percent of the 16-and-older population completely vaccinated and 61.9 percent with at least one shot, including 88 percent of those 65 and older.
The vaccination pace, however, has plummeted in recent weeks. The seven-day trend is running at about 34,000 shots daily, hovering at levels not seen since late February. Minnesota was averaging 60,000 shots a day at one point in mid-April.
State public health leaders have been pleading with those still not vaccinated to get their shots. Eligible Minnesotans can now walk in for a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment at the state’s community vaccination program locations.
Officials are not yet reporting vaccinations among newly eligible 12-to-15-year-olds, but they’ve reported about 18,000 new vaccinations the past few days of people with “unknown” age.
Most of these are probably 12-to-15-year-olds who aren’t being properly reported by the Health Department’s computer systems, designed in a world where the minimum age for COVID-19 vaccines was 16.
Latest developments from around Minnesota
Target drops mask requirement for fully vaccinated shoppers
Minneapolis-based Target said employees and customers who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear face masks in stores, unless mandated by local ordinances.
The company said it will "strongly" recommend that those who are not fully vaccinated use face coverings. Target said its policy change is consistent with CDC recommendations.
Face coverings will still be required for everyone in places where local ordinances require them.
— Mark Zdechlik | MPR News
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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.