In Star Tribune, Jeremy Olson writes that Minnesota’s Coronavirus positivity rate for newly reported cases was down to 3.4% seen first time since almost a year ago. Quoting state health officials, Olson writes “vaccination has limited transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus — with nearly 3 million Minnesotans 12 and older receiving at least some vaccine and more than 2.6 million of them completing the one- or two-dose series”.

“The latest positivity rate reflected tests in the seven days ending May 23. A key measure of viral spread in Minnesota, the rate had briefly reached a record low of 3.3% in mid-June last year.”

Jeremy Olson in Star Tribune

According to the state officials, nearly 90% of senior citizens in Minnesota have received covid-19 vaccine.

• COVID-19 test positivity nears record low in Minnesota
• Student COVID-19 cases plummet in Minnesota after spring wave

Cases Decline in K-12 Students

New coronavirus cases in K-12 students are also reportedly declining sharply, once main cause of the spread during the past spring. Jeremy reports that Kris Ehresmann, state infectious disease director, is encouraging people to seek COVID-19 vaccine to further suppress the spread of the coronavirus.

Just remember that if you’re not vaccinated, you’re still at risk. Certainly the lower numbers help but the virus certainly seeks out people that are susceptible. I just want to acknowledge that, even though we have a lot to celebrate.

Kris Ehresmann, state infectious disease director (source: Star Tribune)

Jeremy writes “Minnesota remains on track to reach a target goal of providing vaccine to 70% of people 16 and older by July 1. The current rate in that population is 64.7%.”

“The vaccines have shown some level of protection against these variants. So that’s positive. However, variants do remain an ongoing threat because they do have the ability to change and they do have the ability to adapt in a way that may not be covered by vaccines. So we’re continuing to watch that. […] There still is an important role for testing, especially among those who are not yet vaccinated,” director Ehresmann told reporters.