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Minnesota continues to see COVID-19 case counts edge higher, but there’s nothing yet to suggest the state is headed for another major wave. While new daily cases are up, key metrics continue to hover at relatively low levels.

Hospitalizations are holding roughly steady at about 100. The state averaged about three deaths daily during the last reporting week — down near levels not seen since the earliest weeks of the pandemic.

That’s not to say there are no concerns. Cases are up most significantly among Black Minnesotans.

Numbers edge up but still near pandemic lows

Known, active COVID-19 cases in Minnesota came in at 1,026 in Tuesday’s report, although the seven-day trend for those active case remains under 1,000. Counts have fallen dramatically since May 1, when Minnesota had more than 15,000 active cases.

Hospitalizations have stayed relatively steady the past few weeks — 104 patients are in Minnesota hospitals with COVID-19, with 23 in intensive care. That’s likely to increase somewhat given the recent uptick in caseloads.

Three newly reported deaths on Tuesday raised Minnesota’s pandemic toll to 7,627. Among those who have died, about 59 percent had been living in long-term care or assisted living facilities; most had underlying health problems.

The state’s recorded 606,870 total confirmed or probable cases in the pandemic, including the 386 — a three-day sum — posted Tuesday.

Roughly 99 percent of Minnesotans known to be infected with COVID-19 have recovered to the point where they no longer need to isolate.

Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in relatively good shape. Caseloads are expanding, however, in the southeast and in east-central Minnesota, as well as the Twin Cities metro area. East-central Minnesota has the state’s lowest vaccination rates, but southeastern Minnesota and the the Twin Cities region have the highest.

People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the state’s largest number of confirmed cases — more than 112,000 since the pandemic began.

Although young people are less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts worry they can spread it unknowingly to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations.

Vaccination pace crawls

About 3 million residents 16 and older now have at least one vaccine dose.

More than 2.8 million are completely vaccinated as of Thursday, the most recent data available. That’s about 64.5 percent of the state’s 16-and-older population completely vaccinated and 67.5 percent with at least one shot, including 91 percent of people 65 and older.

Add in more than 112,000 12-to-15-year-olds with at least one dose and Minnesota has topped 3 million residents with one or more shots. About 53 percent of the state’s total population is now completely vaccinated.

While Minnesota’s vaccination rate recently showed an uptick, the pace has fallen dramatically since peaking in April and continues to trudge along.

At the current pace, it appears it will be late August or early September before Minnesota has 70 percent of residents 16 and older with at least one vaccine dose — a target officials once hoped to reach by July 1.

Minnesota’s also seeing big regional gaps in vaccination rates, with most counties outside the Twin Cities region still below 70 percent of adults vaccinated.

 

Freeborn County COVID-19 update

The Freeborn County Public Health Department reported five new COVID-19 cases in its update Tuesday and said there are currently 10 active cases.

The new cases included one person between 10 and 14, one person between 15 and 19, two people in their 20s and one person in their 60s.