The Minnesota Department of Health reported 745 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 and five new deaths attributed to the virus today, bringing the state’s cumulative total to 53,692 cases and 1,594 deaths.
Of those deaths, 1,219 were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Of those positive cases, 6,181 were health care workers.
Over one million tests have been completed so far, with almost 15,000 completed yesterday, July 29.
To date, 46,965 COVID patients no longer need to be isolated.
MDH officials have reported an uptick in COVID-19-related hospitalizations. According to Kris Ehresmann, infectious disease director with the department, “as we have feared, we are seeing our hospitalizations begin to increase, and I don’t think it’s just a blip.”
Today, MDH reports a slight decrease in ICU hospitalizations, 141, with 157 others hospitalized in non-ICU wards.
MDH reported 15 new cases of COVID-19 in Beltrami County today, bringing this county’s cumulative total to 180. Beltrami County Public Health’s Megan Heuer reports that as of this morning, the county was monitoring 47 active cases with two hospitalizations.
MDH reported four new cases in Cass County, bringing their total to 50 with two deaths; four new cases in Hubbard County, total of 25; one new case in Itasca County, total of 123 with 12 deaths; five new cases in Koochiching County, total of 66 with three deaths; and one new case in Roseau County, total of 42 cases.
All MDH total case counts are cumulative, meaning they do not factor in those who have been released from isolation. MDH officials have indicated they will soon begin presenting data on how many active cases each county has.
Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce the plan for K-12 schooling for the 2020-2021 school year. That announcement will be streamed live today at 2 p.m. on Gov. Tim Walz’s YouTube channel.
