The Minnesota Department of Health is reported 7,444 new COVID-19 cases today, with 7,204 confirmed and 240 probable cases, bringing the state’s case count to 231,018 in total, with 228,158 confirmed and 2,860 probable cases.
Twelve new COVID deaths were reported, bringing the state’s death toll to 2,917.
Of those deaths, 2,003 were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Of those cases, 17,987 were health care workers.
Over 3.472 million tests have been completed so far, with 3.414 million PCR tests and around 59,000 antigen tests completed. Yesterday, around 49,000 PCR and 2,000 antigen tests were completed.
To date, 179,614 COVID patients no longer need to be isolated.
The Minnesota Department of Health will now text people for case investigation and contact tracing. According to a release, this program is expected to begin today. The text will act as a “heads up” to those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 that a health official will call from a certain number.
MDH reminds the public that case interviewers will never ask for a social security number, bank account information or credit card numbers, but will ask about symptoms, people you have been in contact with and will provide information on how to avoid getting other people sick.
The latest new COVID-19 case rate per 10,000 people in Beltrami County was over 107 on Friday according to Public Health, as the state’s latest tabulation for this county also increased.
According to the Safe Learning Plan, for the two-week period ending Oct. 31, Beltrami County’s rate was 62.88, an increase of around 12 points.
Almost 100 new cases were reported over the weekend to the state, and with today’s 27 new confirmed cases and two new probable cases, Beltrami County’s cumulative case total is 1,545 confirmed cases, four probable cases and 13 deaths.
On Friday, Beltrami County Public Health reported they were monitoring 291 cases.
News Director Larissa Donovan interviewed Superintendent of Bemidji Schools Tim Lutz and Bemidji school board member Ann Long-Voelkner today for KB101’s Chat About program. Click here for a link to the audio.
A free saliva testing event will take place this Tuesday for Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College students at the Gillette Wellness Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Wellness Center will be closed to regular activities that day.
Anyone in any county can request a no-cost in-home saliva testing kit from MDH.
MDH reported 28 new COVID-19 cases in Cass County, for a total of 948 confirmed cases, two probable cases and eight deaths; eight new confirmed cases and one new probable case in Clearwater County, for a total of 323 confirmed, one probable case and three deaths; and 24 new cases in Hubbard County, for a total of 791 confirmed cases, two probable cases and 15 deaths.
Sixty-six new confirmed cases were reported in Itasca County, as well as one probable case, bringing their total to 1,394 confirmed cases, one probable case and 19 deaths; five new cases in Koochiching County, for a total of 268 confirmed cases, one probable case and five deaths; five new cases in Lake of the Woods County, for a total of 71 confirmed cases, five probable cases and one death; four new cases in Mahnomen County, for a total of 187 confirmed cases and three deaths; and 31 new confirmed cases in Roseau County, for a total of 640 confirmed cases, 93 probable cases and one death.
