Minnesota reports 851 new COVID-19 cases, 18 deaths Wednesday
(FOX 9) - Minnesota health officials reported 851 new cases of COVID-19 and 18 additional deaths Wednesday.
There have now been 457,317 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Minnesota since the beginning of the pandemic and a total of 6,124 Minnesotans have died from the disease to date, according to the latest state Department of Health data.
The newly reported cases were out of 20,899 tests—a 4.0% positivity rate. The state’s seven-day average positivity rate is 3.9%. Anything over 5% is a concern for MDH.
Minnesota has averaged 1,191 new COVID-19 cases per day over the last week.
Why doctors say it’s still important to wear a mask after you get vaccinated
As more people are vaccinated for COVID-19, doctors are stressing the continued importance of masks and social distancing. Dr. Abe Jacob from M Health Fairview joined the Buzz with more on why you'll still want to mask up after you get your vaccination.
Ten of the 18 newly reported deaths were residents in a long-term care or assisted living facility. Over two-thirds of the state’s deaths have been in those types of facilities.
Meanwhile, the pace of vaccinations is picking up in Minnesota. From Jan. 19-22, the state administered an average of 20,684 COVID-19 vaccinations per day.
As of Jan. 27, 301,290 Minnesotans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.