1-11 COVID-19 Update: Variant Strain Detected in Minnesota, Does Not Appear to Cause More Serious Illness

1-11-2021 COVID-19 Update from Minnesota Department of Health

The Minnesota Department of Health held a press briefing Monday, Jan. 11, to provide the latest public health information regarding COVID-19.

Today’s topic: Situation updates, COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 (from the United Kingdom)

You can watch the full briefing here.

Globally, 90.3 million cases since pandemic began; 1.93 million deaths
In U.S, 22.4 million cases since pandemic started; 374,000 deaths
In Minnesota, 437,552 total confirmed cases (up 980 cases)
- 4,600 cases reported over weekend (Saturday and Sunday)
- Of the 437,552 cases, 417,005 (95%) no longer need isolation.
In Minnesota, 5,711 total deaths (up 4 over previous reporting day)
- 87 deaths reported over weekend
- Of the 4 newly reported deaths, 3 in 70s, 1 in 90s; 2 of the 4 were residents of long-term care
147,645 total doses of vaccine administered, (as of Jan. 8)
- About 500,000 front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care in Phase 1a
Hospitalized currently for COVID-19 in Minnesota: 686. Of those 141 in intensive-care units
- Half the beds in use for COVID care compared to mid-December.

Reports delay in file from Jan. 10 that lowered today’s test count. File contained 9,193 results with 558 positive tests (includes both new and repeat positive tests).
It takes 24-48 hours for a case to get reported to website.

MDH announced Saturday the detection of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 (from the United Kingdom)
- 5 residents from 4 counties in Twin Cities metro,
  - 2 of the cases live in same household.
  - Carver, Hennepin, Dakota and Ramsey are the counties where variant strain detected
  - 2 of the cases involved international travel
- Cases ranged from ages 15 to 37
- Illness onset ranged from Dec. 16 to Dec. 31
- None hospitalized to knowledge of MDH
- Contact tracing investigation continuing
“We expected at some point to find virus in Minnesota,” said Vetter, referring to the variant.
The variant is thought to spread more easily between people, but it does not appear to cause more serious disease
Vaccine currently in use also able to protect against variant strain, said Vetter.
Variant first detected in U.K. in September, 2020

CDC COVID-19 vaccine tracker puts Minnesota at #23 among states in vaccines administered per 100,000 people.
- Malcolm says state comparison data not necessarily apples to apples.
- But Malcolm says on current vaccine doses administered in Minnesota: “Are we satisfied? No.”
Minnesota relying on pharmacy chains to do vaccinating at long-term care facilities. The pharmacies have a separate contract with the federal government for this role (124,000 doses allocated to federal pharmacy partnership program).
Schools reopen for in-person learning Jan. 18 (many in CCX News viewing area on Jan. 19 due to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday).
- Variant appears to impact younger ages more in terms of the data. “I think it’s too early to tell if there’s something special about this virus,” said Vetter on the variant.
- Vetter has not had heard what kind of impact the U.K variant or South African variant has had on children, in terms of the health ramifications.
How effective is COVIDaware MN app? “We are using it on a regular basis with our case and contact follow-up,” said Ehresmann. More than 4,000 people have released their code through the app, said Malcolm. “That’s pretty significant,” said Malcolm.
“We don’t know yet duration of protection for the COVID vaccine,” said Ehresmann. It may be necessary to receive annual vaccination because of duration of protection or do to further variants/mutations of the virus.

Corey Bork, reporting