The Minnesota Department of Health today reported 1,108 new cases via a PCR-positive test, and 61 probable cases from the new antigen tests. Cumulative case totals are 116,865 confirmed by PCR, and another 241 probable cases confirmed by antigen testing.
The state reported 19 new deaths today, bringing the state’s death toll to 2,199.
Of those deaths, 1,546 were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. Of those cases, 12,024 were health care workers.
Over 2.386 million PCR tests have been completed, and almost 17,000 antigen tests have been completed as of yesterday.
To date, 104,547 COVID patients across the state have been released from isolation.
MDH recorded 22 new cases of COVID-19 in Beltrami County, bringing the state’s case count to 706 with six deaths.
According to Beltrami’s Public Health Director Cynthia Borgen, the county was monitoring 115 active cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, with 431 tests pending. Borgen also reported there were two COVID deaths Tuesday night, one of them being a Beltrami County resident and the other from another county. Sanford Bemidji had 14 COVID hospitalizations Wednesday afternoon, with seven patients from this county.
MDH updated its daily COVID situation website Wednesday, which now includes data for both the traditional PCR swab test and the new antigen test, also known as a saliva test. Sanford Bemidji’s Lindsey Wangberg says that locally, the antigen tests are used for senior services to mass test residents and staff, but community members and other patients are tested via the swab. Sanford’s laboratories, at this time, only process PCR tests.
MDH recorded one new death in Hubbard County Wednesday, a resident in their early 60s, and 12 new cases, bringing their case count to 243 cases and two deaths.
MDH reported five new cases in Cass County, bringing their case total to 274 with four deaths; two new cases in Clearwater County, total of 59 cases; 18 new cases in Itasca County, total of 617 cases and 16 deaths; two new cases in Koochiching County, total of 149 case and four deaths; one new case in Mahnomen County, total of 79 cases and one death; and three new cases in Roseau County, total of 161 cases.
