1-14 COVID-19 Update: Minnesota Urges Federal Government ‘To Provide More Vaccine Immediately’
1-14-2021 COVID-19 Update from Minnesota Department of Health
Also See: 1-12 COVID-19 Update: Minnesota Launches Dashboard to Track Vaccine
The Minnesota Department of Health holds a press briefing Thursday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m. to provide the latest public health information regarding COVID-19.
Today’s topic: Situation updates
You can watch the full briefing here.
MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:
- Globally, 92.3 million cases since pandemic began; 1.98 million deaths
- In U.S., 23.2 million cases since start of pandemic; 386,000 deaths
- In Minnesota, 441,935 total cases (up 1,598 on testing volume of about 36,000)
- Of the 441,935 cases, 420,919 (95%) no longer need isolation
- In Minnesota, 5,817 total deaths (up 43)
- Of the 43 newly reported deaths, 23 were residents of long-term care/assisted living
- 5 of the COVID-19 deaths were people in their 50s.
- According to state’s vaccine dashboard, 169,416 doses administered
- MDH now urging health care providers to offer doses to broader groups due to significant changes in federal guidance (more details under Q&A Session and Notes below)
- CDC announced Tuesday new guidance to provide vaccine to people age 65 and older, as well as those with underlying health conditions
- “We are approaching the end of our earliest stages of the vaccine rollout [Phase 1a], and we want to make sure all vaccines in the state are getting into arms as quickly as possible,” Commissioner Malcolm said in a statement to CCX News.
- MDH also urging federal government “to provide more vaccine immediately.”
- 7-day case positivity rate now at 7.3%, which is a slight decline.
- This rate as of Jan. 5. (there’s a one-week lag period in 7-day rate)
MDH State Epidemiologist and Medical Director Ruth Lynfield:
- Multisystem Inflammatary Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) cases in Minnesota has reached 56, but no deaths
- Average age of cases is 7.5
- 73% are male
- Disparity noticed among minorities
- “We are seeing more MIS-C cases than last fall,” said Dr. Lynfield, but notes these cases are still “extremely rare.”
- MIS-C seen as a byproduct of COVID-19
Q&A Session and Notes:
- Malcolm on 65-and-older guidance. “This is not the unveiling of our next steps.” Will be announcing more details on that in next few days. The guidance meant to provide health care providers, which have extra doses available following Phase 1a vaccinations, to put those doses to use and give providers flexibility to immediately administer them to those 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions
- NOTE: next steps will be Phase 1b.
- Phase 1b expected to include teachers, police, firefighters and other essential workers
- Phase 1a vaccinations still on track to wrap up at end of January
- The new guidance is a small number of doses we’re talking about, said Malcolm. Says providers that have gotten through Phase 1a can re-allocate those small number of doses to those ages 65 and older/those with underlying health conditions
- On those health care workers refusing to take shot — Malcolm: “We certainly are interested to learn what their concerns are.” Says situations vary, including workers who want to get shot later because they want to see others get it first because they see themselves as lower risk. It could also be they just don’t want to get shot at this time/concerns about side effects.
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