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Minnesota public health leaders had worried the 

 last month might deliver an uptick in COVID-19 cases. But the newest data shows just the opposite happening: New cases have slowed to a relative trickle.

The state Health Department on Wednesday reported only 91 new cases — the second consecutive reporting day with fewer than 100 new cases and the lowest two-day count since the pandemic’s earliest weeks. Active cases and hospitalizations remain relatively low.

Analysis of COVID-19 data in Minnesota

How to get a COVID-19 shot in Minnesota

COVID-19 in Minnesota

The vaccination pace remains a concern. After targeting July 1 as the date to get at least one dose into 70 percent of the 16-and-older population, it looks now like that won’t happen until early August. Minnesota is also showing some big regional divides in vaccination rates.

On the plus, side, more than 3 million Minnesotans 12 and older have now received at least one vaccine dose. Just under half the state’s total population is now completely vaccinated.

New, active cases stay at April 2020 lows 

The basic numbers continue to paint a picture of a pandemic in retreat.

Wednesday’s report showed known, active cases of the disease at 1,151. The state averaged 143 new cases a day over the past seven reporting days. Both figures continue to hover around lows from April 2020.

How quickly have conditions improved? On May 1, Minnesota was averaging more than 1,500 new cases daily and had more than 15,000 known, active cases. 

COVID-19 hospitalizations also continue to slide from their spring peaks. The Health Department reported 151 people hospitalized in Minnesota, with 56 in intensive care. 

Daily intensive care admissions are near their lowest point since data collection began in the weeks last year after the first COVID-19 case was discovered. 

Five newly reported deaths on Wednesday pushed Minnesota’s pandemic toll to 7,523. Among those who have died, about 59 percent had been living in long-term care or assisted-living facilities; most had underlying health problems.

The state has recorded 604,052 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including the 91 posted Wednesday.

About 99 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. 

Case counts had crept up across the state during April following a massive spike in late November and early December. Now, though, the numbers are low and falling in every age group and region.

People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the state’s largest number of confirmed cases — more than 111,000 since the pandemic began. 

Although young people are less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts worry they can spread it unknowingly to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations.

About teenagers and the COVID-19 vaccine in MN

Unvaccinated kids and updated mask guidance

More than 2.9 million residents 16 and older now have at least one vaccine dose. More than 2.7 million are completely vaccinated. 

That works out to about 61.6 percent completely vaccinated and 66 percent with at least one shot, including 90 percent of people 65 and older. 

The vaccination pace, however, is tripping along now after tumbling from its April peak. If the pace continues to crawl, it will be early August before the state reaches 70 percent of adults with at least one shot. 

Officials recently noted that more than 70 percent of the 16-and-older population in the Twin Cities metropolitan area had received at least one vaccine dose, but that the rate was below 60 percent in much of the rest of the state, creating a concerning urban-rural vaccination gap.

How some are closing the divide

Minnesota’s seen notable growth in the number of children ages 12 to 15 getting vaccinated since mid-May when 

federal authorities approved the Pfizer vaccine for use at those ages

Health Department data shows more than 96,000 12-to-15-year-olds with at least one dose, about 32 percent of that population. The pace, though, has fallen off following an early surge.

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 

How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Minnesota

Tracking the vaccination progress in the U.S.

Full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic

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New cases stayed below 100 for the second straight day — the lowest two-day count since April 2020. Vaccinations are languishing, although more than 3 million Minnesotans 12 and older have now received at least one dose.

Monika Lawrence for MPR News 

Graph showing total COVID-19 vaccinations by age

David H. Montgomery | MPR News

Active, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota

Graph of new ICU and non-ICU COVID-19 hospitalizations

New COVID-19 related deaths reported in Minnesota each day

Graph showing when Minnesota is on target to vaccinated 70% of adults

Map of Minnesota COVID-19 eligible vaccination rate

June 16 update on COVID-19 in MN: New cases plummet; 3 million with at least 1 shot

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