In the MPR News, The Associated Press writes “the state reported the highest number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 since mid-May, along with five new deaths and 1,470 new infections, with a slight increase in infections among those who have been fully vaccinated”.
According to the state health officials, Minnesota recorded more than 7,000 breakthrough cases, as of Monday Aug 16, however the rate is still low amid the 3 million Minnesotans who are vaccinated.
The state’s infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann told Star Tribune that the breakthrough infection rate has increased slightly, from 0.11% a month ago.
Although we are seeing a slightly greater proportion of breakthrough cases, the vaccines are continuing to do their job.
Kris Ehresmann, state infectious disease director (source: Star Tribune)
As of Tuesday, positivity rate for COVID-19 tests passes 5 percent, according to MPR News.
“The rate of tests coming back positive for COVD-19 in the past reporting week, now at 5.21 percent, has passed the 5 percent threshold that officials find concerning.”
- State’s breakthrough COVID cases top 7,000, still a low rate
- US COVID-19 cases back to pre-vaccination levels
- Minnesota COVID-19 hospitalizations highest since mid-May
According Star Tribune, “Mayo Clinic’s 14-day COVID-19 forecast predicts a doubling of the infection rate in Minnesota — with widespread outbreaks in Southern states gradually spreading north — but other models offer more optimism”.
Reacting to upcoming State Fair and other mass gathering events like South Dokota’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, wedding etc, Ehresmann reportedly said “there will always be some risk at these events, so we advocate a layered approach that includes getting vaccinated, but also wearing masks in high-transmission areas and staying home when sick”.
Gov. Walz said in a statement “With the delta variant pushing cases up across the country, including right here in Minnesota, we’ve entered a new phase in the battle against COVID-19. The vaccines are the way we fight back against the virus.”
Coronavirus-19 vaccination watch
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID vaccination tracker page (as of August 17, 9 a.m.) 417,477,975 doses have been distributed and 357,894,995 doses administered. According MDH COVID-19 Response vaccine data (as of August 15) a total of 6,044,915 doses of Covid-19 (Pfizer & Moderna) vaccines have been administered in Minnesota. According to the MDH latest tally (as of August 17) the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota are 629,354 (out of 11,017,165 tested) with 7,737 deaths.