The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota grew to 169 on Sunday, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

No cases have been confirmed in Freeborn County.

The department states six cases have been confirmed in Mower County, three in Steele County, one in Waseca County, four in Blue Earth County and 14 in Olmsted County. No cases have been confirmed in Faribault County.

Albert Lea Area Schools on Friday announced a school district employee had a confirmed case of the virus but said the employee does not live in Freeborn County.

The highest number of cases is in Hennepin County with 57.

The Department of Health stated 4,680 patients have been tested for COVID-19, but not all cases of COVID-19 are tested, so it is not a representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19.

The update comes after the first confirmed death of a Minnesota resident due to COVID-19 was reported on Saturday.

The death occurred Thursday in a Ramsey County resident in their 80s who recently tested positive for COVID-19 and came in contact with an infected family member who had a history of international travel, said Kris Ehresmann, the Minnesota Department of Health’s infectious disease director. The person had underlying medical conditions, she said.

Sunday’s update noted that the virus had been confirmed in two new counties, Cass and LeSueur.

Ehresmann told reporters during a conference call Sunday afternoon that 17 patients have been hospitalized so far. Ten remain hospitalized, including five in intensive care. The other seven are recovering at home.

The 169 infected patients’ ages range from 10 to 94, Ehresmann said. Thirty-four health care workers have been infected, she added.

Gov. Tim Walz, who earlier ordered bars and restaurants to close, on Saturday evening activated the National Guard to carry personal protective equipment being stored at Camp Ripley to a warehouse in St. Paul. Many hospitals have complained about a shortage of protective gear for their workers.

For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover within weeks.

People are encouraged to follow the following precautions to slow the spread of the virus:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
• Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your face — especially your eyes, nose and mouth — with unwashed hands.
• Stay home if you have cold- or flu-like symptoms, for seven days after your illness onset or three days after your fever resolves without fever reducing medicine, and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

 

Confirmed COVID-19 cases

County	Cases
Anoka	5
Benton	1
Blue Earth	4
Carver	7
Cass	1
Chisago	1
Clay	2
Dakota	11
Dodge	2
Filmore	2
Hennepin	57
Jackson	1
LeSeur	1
Martin	8
Mower	6
Nicollet	3
Olmsted	14
Ramsey	18
Renville	1
Rice	1
Scott	3
St. Louis	1
Stearns	4
Steele	3
Wabasha	1
Waseca	1
Washington	7
Wright	3

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.