3-8 COVID-19 Update: 10% of Minnesotans Fully Vaccinated

3-8 COVID-19 Update from Minnesota Department of Health

Vaccination provided at Brooklyn Center Walmart

The Minnesota Department of Health provided the latest public health information regarding COVID-19 vaccines, variants and testing on Monday, March 8.

You can watch the full briefing here:

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• In Minnesota, 490,483 total cases since pandemic began (up 473)
  • 973 cases reported on Saturday and 896 cases on Sunday
• In Minnesota, 6,556 total deaths (up 6)
  • 11 deaths reported on Saturday, 5 on Sunday

Latest on COVID-19 Vaccines

• 1.66 million doses of vaccine administered in Minnesota
  • Of those doses, 566,192 people age 65+ have received at least one dose
  • 66% of people age 65+ have received at least one dose (goal is at least 70% before moving to next vaccination phase)
• 10.6% of people fully vaccinated in Minnesota

MDH Infectious Disease Director Disease Kris Ehresmann:

• CDC issued new guidance for people who are fully vaccinated.
  • Fully vaccinated people can:
    • Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
    • Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing
    • Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic
• Fully vaccinated people need to continue to mask, social distance and take precautions when in public.
• “The vaccination science that continues to grow is good news,” added Malcolm on the new guidance. “The guidance is quite specific.”
• “We are not at a place where this guidance really impacts many people,” said Ehresmann.

COVID-19 Variant Cluster in Carver County

• Cluster of cases related to B.1.1.7 variant first discovered in United Kingdom. According to health officials, this variant spreads more easily and is known to cause more severe illness.
• MDH has observed a “concerning” increase in the rate of growth of cases in Carver County over the past month. (At least 27 B.1.1.7 cases linked to activities there)
  • MDH notes a 62% increase in cases between the week beginning Jan. 27 to the week beginning Feb. 24).
  • Since late January, at least 84 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to participants in both school-sponsored and club sports activities, including hockey, wrestling, basketball and alpine skiing.
  • Health officials have also seen increases in cases in Carver County gyms and fitness centers, with many of the cases linked to the sports-related cases.
• Case rates in Carver County are now approaching rates seen in October 2020, and a high proportion (35%) are under age 20.
• Last week, the outbreak prompted state health officials to call for youth athletes and parents to double down on measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including weekly testing of athletes and coaches.
• State set up pop-up saliva testing in Chanhassen to help control outbreak
  • Chanhassen Recreation Center
    • Hours of operation:

      Thursday, March 11, 2 – 8 p.m.
      Friday, March 12, noon – 6 p.m.
      Saturday, March 13, noon – 6 p.m.

      Thursday, March 18, 2 – 8 p.m.
      Friday, March 19, noon – 6 p.m.
      Saturday, March 20, noon – 6 p.m

Q&A Session and Notes:

• People 65 and over need to show identification for proof of age. Vaccine Connector also needs people to state their age, said Ehresmann.
• What about taking a pause for youth sports in Carver County? Malcolm: “This is a significant number of cases that have emerged quite quickly.” Malcolm says people should really reconsider engaging in those activities at this time. “This is an elevated risk situation,” she said. People should take individual precautions, if not a community suspension of activities, Malcolm added.
• “We know there were additional activities associated with sports,” said Ehresmann on the Carver County cases.

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