Minnesota surpasses 100,000 people vaccinated against COVID-19

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota health officials reported 2,387 new cases of COVID-19 and 48 additional deaths Friday. 

The Minnesota Department of Health has reported 431,944 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the first infection was reported in the state in March. About 95% of those cases have recovered to the point where they no longer require isolation. A total of 5,620 people in Minnesota have died from the disease so far. 

Walz announces loosened COVID-19 restrictions

Governor Tim Walz announced new, eased COVID-19 restrictions

The newly reported cases were on a volume of 43,684 tests—a positivity rate of 5.5%, a sign that testing is rebounding after a lull from the holiday. 

Of 48 deaths reported on Friday, 30 of the people who died were residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities or a group home. 

The deaths included one person from Scott County in their early 30s, however, the majority of the deaths were among people 60 and older. 

Minnesota vows slow-moving COVID vaccine rollout will quicken

Minnesota health officials say that the state's slow-moving coronavirus vaccine rollout will speed up in January and vow that every willing health care worker and long-term care resident will get a shot by the end of the month.

Currently, there 130 people in the ICU hospitalized due to COVID-19. Approximately 7% of staffed ICU beds in the Twin Cities metro are currently available. 

As of Friday, there have been a total of 104,226 vaccines have been administered in Minnesota, according to MDH data. However, state health officials explained that the real-time vaccine numbers are higher than the numbers posted online due to delays in the reporting process.