Dec. 13 update on COVID-19 in MN: 85 more deaths as toll climbs past 4,400 – Minnesota Public Radio News

Updated: 8:30 p.m.

Minnesotas death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic climbed past 4,400 on Sunday, with state health officials reporting more than 80 deaths on four of the past five days.

That includes the 85 additional COVID-19 deaths reported Sunday, as the daily average over the past week climbed to nearly 66, a record high.

The grim death toll continues as the number of new cases and hospital admissions each day continues to trend downward. The average test positivity rate over the past week also dropped, to below 9 percent the first time thats happened since October.

Here are Minnesotas current COVID-19 statistics:

4,444 deaths (85 new)

378,823 positive cases (3,439 newly reported); 341,530 off isolation (about 90 percent)

4.89 million tests, 2.76 million people tested (about 48 percent of the population)

8.9 percent seven-day positive test rate (officials find 5 percent or more concerning)

The average number of new cases reported each day over the past week is about 4,014 the lowest that number has been since the first week of November. It peaked at more than 7,100 in late November.

The average number of new COVID-related hospital admissions each day over the past week dropped below 190 on Sunday the first time thats happened in a month.

Minnesota officials continue to anticipate a wave of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations originating from Thanksgiving holiday celebrations.

It hasnt happened yet, though. Because of that, health leaders are somewhat hopeful that many families heeded public pleas to not gather in big groups for Thanksgiving, and so the worst-case scenarios of a post-holiday surge might not materialize.

Gov. Tim Walz echoed that hope on Friday, noting the slowing case counts as well as a recent decline in positive test rates, a key metric in judging the spread of the disease.

Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm urged caution, though, saying it was still too soon to judge whether a Thanksgiving surge was coming. While the states caseloads have eased, we are still at a very vulnerable place, she told reporters.

Walz must still decide soon whether to extend the states current monthlong ban on in-person bar and restaurant service, which is set to run through Dec. 18.

While a decision had been expected Monday, a Walz spokesperson said Friday that the governor has now pushed it back until Wednesday because he wants the most up-to-date data before deciding.

The newest numbers put Minnesotas total of confirmed or probable cases at more than 378,000 to date. In about 90 percent of those cases, people have recovered to the point where they no longer need to be isolated.

The deaths reported Saturday raised Minnesotas count to 4,359. Among those whove died, about two-thirds had been living in long-term care or assisted living facilities; most had underlying health problems.

COVID-19 is now killing Minnesotans at a rate far higher than any recent flu season. Roughly one-third of all recent deaths in Minnesota are tied to COVID-19.

In the past few years, respiratory illnesses have been a major contributing factor in about 5 to 10 percent of all deaths in Minnesota, depending on the time of year.

They accounted for around 20 percent of deaths during the states May COVID-19 wave.

Now its even higher: nearly 40 percent of all deaths in Minnesota in recent weeks have been attributed to a respiratory illness such as COVID-19, influenza or pneumonia.

People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the states largest number of confirmed cases more than 72,000 since the pandemic began, including nearly 39,000 among people ages 20 to 24.

The number of high school-age children confirmed with the disease has also grown, with more than 26,000 total cases among children ages 15 to 19 since the pandemic began.

Although less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts worry youth and young adults will spread it to grandparents and other vulnerable populations.

Its especially concerning because people can have the coronavirus and spread COVID-19 when they dont have symptoms.

Central and western Minnesota drove much of the increase in new cases over the past five weeks, while Hennepin and Ramsey counties showed some of the slowest case growth in the state.

After a spike in confirmed cases through much of November, all regions of the state have seen new case numbers plateau or start to fall.

Hot spots continues to pop up in rural counties relative to their population.

In Minnesota and across the country, COVID-19 has hit communities of color disproportionately hard in both cases and deaths. Thats been especially true for Minnesotans of Hispanic descent for much of the pandemic.

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.

Similar trends have been seen among Minnesotas Indigenous residents. Counts among Indigenous people jumped in October relative to population.

Officials continue to plead with Minnesotans to wear masks in public gathering spaces, socially distance, stay home if they dont feel well and otherwise stay vigilant against the spread of COVID-19.

State health officials on Thursday noted that several of the newly reported deaths included people in their 20s, 40s and 50s, emphasizing the disease isnt simply focused on the very old.

This is not just a problem for the elderly, for our fellow Minnesotans who have medical conditions. It is a problem for all of us, state epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield told reporters.

Until we have safe and effective vaccines, we really need to do everything we can to stop transmission between fellow Minnesotans, she added. We know this is hard. It is taking a big toll on so many areas of our lives. But we have to hang in there and we have to do the best we can.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety on Sunday suspended the liquor license of an East Grand Forks, Minn., bar that had been operating in violation of state COVID-19 restrictions.

The Boardwalk Bar and Grill reopened to in-person service last week. Owner Jane Moss said her business would go under if she could not serve patrons in person.

The 60-day liquor license suspension announced Sunday is set to expire in February; another violation could result in a five-year license revocation.

The action follows a temporary restraining order issued Friday by a Polk County District Court judge, ordering the bar to close to in-person service.

Minnesotas monthlong shutdown of in-person bar and restaurant service, along with youth sports and other activities, is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Friday. Gov. Tim Walz has not yet said whether he'll extend the restrictions.

Representatives of a group called the Reopen Minnesota Coalition told KARE-TV on Friday that dozens of businesses plan to defy the governor's order in the coming week.

MPR News staff

What's in Santa's bag? Masks, plexiglass and Zoom: With surging COVID-19 cases nationwide and new restrictions in place throughout Minnesota to help curb the spread of the disease, Santas lap is off limits this year. That has spurred creativity in Santa's workshops.

Burnout is the new normal for hospital workers: As the weeks go by with hospitals beds full and staff in short supply, doctors and nurses are under incredible pressure. One Minnesota doctor says shes worried itll lead to an exodus of providers after the pandemic ends.

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 theHealth Department website.

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Dec. 13 update on COVID-19 in MN: 85 more deaths as toll climbs past 4,400 - Minnesota Public Radio News