State health officials say 90-percent of positive COVID-19 tests they studied contained the delta variant — enough samples to estimate it’s now the dominant strain in Minnesota.
More than 1,600 new cases and 10 new deaths were reported Wednesday.
One death was a Beltrami County resident in their early 70s. Twelve new Beltrami COVID cases were also reported.
The state’s case positive rate also reached the 5 percent caution threshold.
Hospitalizations have tripled in recent weeks and are at their highest level since May.
Eight new COVID hospital admissions were reported in Beltrami County over the last week, a 160 percent increase from the previous week. Only a small percentage of total beds in the county are being used for COVID patients.
Gov. Tim Walz announced state agency employees will be required to show proof of vaccination by Sept. 8 or they will be required to take weekly COVID tests.
Anyone who can get their COVID-19 shot by Aug. 15 can claim a $100 Visa Gift Card.
There have been so-called “breakthrough” COVID cases in less than one percent of vaccinated Minnesotans.
