The latest COVID-19 figures from Minnesota show a trend that most virus cases in the state are occurring outside the 7-county Twin Cities subway.
The 2020 census found that Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties account for 55.5% of Minnesota’s total population, although areas outside the subway have seen a disproportionate amount. of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.
The following is a breakdown of cases from the last ten days:
- Data reported on Tuesday, August 24 (Monday to Monday, August 21 to 23): 3,838 cases in total; 1,850 per meter. 48.2% of the metro.
- Data reported by Weds on August 25: 1,404 cases in total; 758 per meter. 54% of the metro.
- Data reported on Thursday 26 August: 1,839 cases in total, 886 cases in the metro. 48% of the metro.
- Data reported on Friday 27 August: 1,912 cases in total, 882 cases in the metro. 46.1% of the metro.
- Data reported on Monday 30 August: 1,918 cases in total; 919 cases per meter. 47.9% of the metro.
- Data reported on Tuesday, August 31 (Monday to Monday, August 28 to 30): 3,882 cases in total; 1,901 cases per meter. 49% of the metro.
- Data reported by Weds, September 1: 1,436 cases in total; 677 cases per meter. 47.1% of the metro.
The total number of cases since the pandemic began is highest in the number of densely populated areas, although per capita, twin cities (with the exception of Anoka County) have seen a majority of case rates. lower than the more rural areas of the state.
Of the seven counties in the twin cities, only Anoka (68.8%) has a vaccination rate among people over the age of 12 and less than 70%, while Washington, Hennepin and Dakota are the third, fourth and fifth most counties. vaccinated in the state (behind Olmsted and Cook).
Meanwhile, counties with lower vaccination rates have experienced increasingly higher case rates in the past two months, as the most contagious delta variant prevailed in Minnesota.
Figures released this Tuesday over the weekend show some counties with lower vaccination rates, having increased the number of cases.
Stearns County, with a population of just over 158,000 and a vaccination rate of more than 12 people of 53.7%, released 135 new cases between Saturday and Monday.
In comparison, Scott County, with a population of just over 145,000 and a vaccination rate of more than 12 years of 74.7%, recorded 95 new cases between Saturday and Monday.
Other low-vaccination counties that report disproportionately high new cases in recent weeks include Kandiyohi, which has a 56.8% 12+ vaccination rate, Hubbard (58.2%), Isanti (50.1%) and Mille Lacs ( 48.1%).
Subscribe: Subscribe to our breaking newsletters
The epidemiologist says the southeast of MN has a delta weight, but that may change
There is a remarkable atypical value in the form of Olmsted County, home of the Mayo Clinic, which has the highest vaccination rate in the state, with 83.4% over the age of 12, but which publishes numbers COVID per capita is higher than that observed in most Twin Cities subways.
Bring Me The News spoke with Olmsted County epidemiologist Meaghan Sherden, who said there is no single reason for this, but probably a confluence of several.
One is that while Olmsted County is highly vaccinated, it is surrounded by counties that are between 60 and 65%.
“We are equally affected by what is happening in our region,” Sherden said, noting that even during the pandemic, Rochester still has a large transient population traveling to the city from other counties with fewer vaccines. to work.
State figures also show that southeastern Minnesota has so far borne the weight of the delta variant, with higher case rates than any other region of the state. However, Sherden says there are now indications that cases are reaching their peak in the area, which is not the case in other parts of Minnesota.
According to her, this mimics what was seen at the winter peak of 2020, where cases increased in southeastern Minnesota before heading north.
“It could be that the delta has moved through our community a little faster than others and we are starting to see ourselves catching up in the northern regions,” he said.