Minnesota reports 2,454 new COVID-19 cases, 12 deaths Saturday

Walz in ‘hold pattern’ on restrictions as Minnesota heads toward third COVID-19 surge

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he is not planning to impose new restrictions as the state heads into a third surge of COVID-19 infections.

(FOX 9) - Minnesota health officials reported 2,454 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 more deaths on Saturday as experts worry the state is headed into another surge of cases.

Minnesota has now seen a total of 540,277 COVID-19 cases and 6,944 deaths since the pandemic began, according to the latest state health department data.

Of the new deaths, 10 were in private residences while two were from long-term care facilities. 11 of the cases were patients between the ages of 60 and 94 while one of the deaths was a person in their early 30s.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are steadily increasing, now at the highest they have been since mid-January.

Despite the increasing cases, and concerns over another wave of COVID-19, Governor Tim Walz has said he doesn't have any plans for another set of COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, he and other governors are pushing for the Biden administration to prioritize states that are facing a new increase in cases for COVID-19 doses.

Minnesota Vaccine Hunters see appointment seeking frenzy slowing

It’s been eight days since the state of Minnesota started giving coronavirus vaccines to all Minnesotans ages 16 and up.

Meanwhile, 1,944,412 Minnesotans have at least a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 1,333,998 have completed the vaccine series, which is roughly 45 percent and 30 percent of the state’s population above age 16 respectively

Over 84% of Minnesota seniors have at least a first dose of the vaccine.

Minnesota has surpassed three million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, just three weeks after hitting the two million doses mark.