Credit: Navy Medicine via Flickr
Twenty-two deaths have been added to Minnesota’s COVID-19 toll, as well as just under 2,000 new cases, according to the state health department’s Monday report.
December saw 1,279, making it the deadliest month in Minnesota during the pandemic. There were fewer than 500 deaths in October before the November death toll soared to 1,136. Since the first death was reported on March 21, Minnesota has reported a total of 4,872 fatalities.
Long-term care deaths accounted for 64.8% (3,159) of the total, including 10 of the 22 reported Monday.
Aside from deaths, Minnesota’s COVID-19 figures are declining for the most part. In perspective, we estimate that by mid-November Minnesota reported more than 50,000 active cases. There are now (26,010 active cases, according to the health department).
Hospitalizations
As of Dec. 20, the number of people with COVID-19 hospitalized in Minnesota is 1,040. It fell from 1,144 on Thursday and is significantly lower than the high of 1,840 on November 30.
Of those currently hospitalized, 237 are in intensive care, down from 270 on Thursday and 803 receiving non-ICU treatment. It is the lowest number of patients with COVID-19 in the ICU since November 7 and the number of patients who do not belong to the ICU since November 4.
Test rates and positivity
The 1,992 positive results of Sunday’s update came from a total of 33,391 completed tests, which created a daily positivity rate of 5.96%.
The World Health Organization recommended in May that a positive percentage rate (divided by the total number of completed tests) of less than 5% be needed for at least two weeks to reopen the economy safely. This 5% threshold is based on the total positives divided by the total tests.
Coronavirus in Minnesota by the numbers
- Total tests: 5,232,347 (to 5,199,011)
- Tested people: 2,870,337 (to 2,8859,220)
- Positive cases: 399,311 (to 397,319)
- Deaths: 4,872 – 131 of which are “probable *” (up to 4,850)
- Active cases: 26,010 (less than 27,407)
- Patients who no longer need isolation: 373,301 (to 369,912)