COVID-19 in Minnesota: 1,732 new cases, 17 more deaths reported Sunday

Minnesota health officials reported 1,732 new cases of COVID-19 and 17 more deaths Sunday. 

The state has now seen a total of 122,812 cases of COVID-19 and 2,234 deaths since the onset of the pandemic.

Of the 17 newly reported deaths, 14 were residents in long-term care facilities.

Friday, the state reported a record daily high of 2,297 new cases as well as more than 44,000 tests completed in a 24-hour period. 

The record number of newly reported cases Friday followed a similarly record-setting surge in testing, keeping the positivity rate relatively unchanged at 5.1%. The seven-day rolling average positivity rate is 5.3%—up from 5% at this time last week, according to Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. Anything over 5% is a concern for MDH because it indicates widespread disease growth in the state. 

Malcolm says hospitalizations are trending upward in Minnesota. On Friday, there were 461 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Minnesota—131 of whom are in the ICU. 

However, state health officials say hospital bed capacity is less of a concern than community spread of COVID-19 to hospital staff. Hennepin Healthcare CEO Jennifer DeCubellis said Friday that every hospital system in Minnesota has had to take beds offline when health workers have to quaratine either due to contracting the coronavirus or being exposed to a case. 

As of Thursday, there are 24 schools statewide with five or more cases of COVID-19—up from 11 the week before. Four of the schools are in the Twin Cities metro: Blaine High School, Chanhassen High School, Maple Grove Senior High and Park Center IB World School in Brooklyn Park. 

MDH updates its list of pre-K through grade 12 schools with five or more cases of COVID-19 every Thursday.