3-25 COVID-19 Update: Minnesota Reports Largest Number of New Cases Since Jan. 9

3-25 COVID-19 Update: Minnesota Reports Largest Number of New Cases Since Jan. 9

The Minnesota Department of Health will provide the latest public health information at 2 p.m. regarding COVID-19 vaccines, variants, breakthrough cases and testing.

You can watch the full briefing here.

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• In Minnesota, 510,398 total cases since pandemic began (up 1,857 on testing volume of nearly 41,000)
  • This is the largest number of new cases since Jan. 9
• In Minnesota, 6,814 total deaths (up 16)
  • Of the 16 newly reported deaths, 10 were residents of long-term care/assisted living.
• Minnesota’s 7-day average case positivity rate is now 4.6%, highest since late January.
• New infections have jumped 9% this month in 10 to 14-year-olds.
• By end of this week, Minnesota expects nearly every resident and staff member at its nearly 2,000 long-term care facilities to have had the opportunity to receive two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
  • “This week’s milestone around vaccinations is so encouraging, but it’s not done by any stretch” said Malcolm, who notes that some residents and staff turned down COVID-19 vaccinations.
• 80% of residents in nursing homes are fully vaccinated. 54% of staff members in skilled nursing facilities and 45% of staff in assisted living are fully vaccinated.

Latest on COVID-19 Vaccines:

• 2.3 million doses of vaccine now administered in Minnesota.
  • Of those, 1.48 million Minnesotans have received at least one dose (26.5% of state’s population).
  • 79.4% of people age 65+ have received at least one dose.
• Ehresmann says she expects close to 304,000 first doses of vaccine the first full week of April. (This is about double what Minnesota is currently receiving.) The doses include Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Next week Minnesota expects to receive an incremental increase.
• Ehresmann also notes that J&J vaccine still awaiting FDA approval for large-scale manufacturing.
• “J&J [allocations] might be a bit bumpy for next couple of weeks,” said Malcolm. Ehresmann says J&J in an “in-between phase” until further production is ramped up.
• Gov. Walz is expected to make major announcement Friday on eligibility for vaccine.

MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann:

• COVID-19 vaccines are no cost for people getting them, said Ehresmann. All organizations and providers may not deny anyone’s vaccination based on insurance coverage.

Also on today’s call: MDH Office of Health Facility Complaints Director Lindsey Krueger; Gayle Kvenvold, President and CEO of Leading Age Minnesota; Patti Cullen, President and CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota; and Matt McNeill, Director of Senior Living for StuartCo

• Sixty-two nursing homes and 31 assisted living facilities have had a COVID-19 case in last 14 days (4.5% of long-term care facilities), said Krueger.
  • “We have made great progress,” said Krueger, noting that a COVID-19 case does not necessarily mean visitations to long-term care facilities will be restricted. New visitation guidelines released last week.
• Kvenvold says facilities still striving to seek balance between safety and important social connections, acknowledging the increase in cases this week.
• Cullen says there has been “a high rate of acceptance” among long-term care residents for vaccines. Recent study showed an 82% decline in COVID-19 cases at LTC facilities between Dec. 20 and mid-February.

Q&A Session and Notes:

• 503 cases detected in MDH labs of B.1.1.7 variant, (first discovered in United Kingdom). This is a small percentage of actual B.1.1.7 cases. Ehresmann believes over half of the COVID-19 cases in the Minnesota are B.1.1.7 variant.

Also see: 3-23 COVID-19 Update: MDH Reports Widespread Transmission of B.1.1.7 Variant

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