May 17 update on COVID-19 in MN: Cases ebb, no new deaths; vaccinations struggle
3 things to know
61.6 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older with at least one vaccine dose; 53.1 percent — more than 2.3 million people — are now completely vaccinated
Average number of new cases stays below 1,000 a day
Vaccination pace struggling for traction
Updated: 12:32 p.m.
Minnesota’s COVID-19 data has settled into another good news-bad news groove. The numbers continue to show the disease in retreat following a spring surge. But the push to get more Minnesota adults vaccinated is languishing.
Perhaps the best news from the Health Department Monday: another day with no newly reported deaths. Vaccinations, however, remain at a relative crawl with the trend line hovering at levels not seen since early March.
Even as they dropped Minnesota’s statewide mask-wearing order last week, officials acknowledge they needed to do more to get unvaccinated Minnesotans to get their shots.
Active cases, hospitalizations trending down
Despite concerns over the vaccination pace, the pandemic picture continues to brighten.
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The count of known, active COVID-19 cases came in at 8,114 — less than half its most recent high of around 20,000 in mid-April, and the lowest level since March 11.
There were 423 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Minnesota; 108 needed intensive care. Both figures continue to trend down from their recent peaks. New hospital admissions have dropped significantly.
With no newly reported deaths Monday, Minnesota’s pandemic toll stayed at 7,296. Among those who have died, about 60 percent had been living in long-term care or assisted-living facilities; most had underlying health problems.
The state has recorded 595,016 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including the 589 posted Monday. About 97 percent of Minnesotans known to be infected with COVID-19 in the pandemic have recovered to the point where they no longer need to isolate.
Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in better shape than they were in late November and early December. Case counts had crept up across the state during April, but the trend is clearly on the slide.
Officials continue to implore Minnesotans to keep their guard up during proms, graduations and other spring events, noting that more contagious COVID-19 variants are driving new cases across the state.
Youth, young adult counts concerning
While the overall trends are solid, officials are increasingly concerned about the spread of COVID-19 in younger people. They’ve been urging more testing of middle and high school students and weekly testing for athletes, coaches, referees and other youth sports participants.
People in their 20s still make up the age bracket with the state’s largest number of confirmed cases — more than 110,000 since the pandemic began.
The number of high school-age youth confirmed with the disease has also grown, with more than 48,000 15-to-19-year-olds known to be infected during the pandemic.
Although young people are less likely to feel the worst effects of the disease and end up hospitalized, experts worry they will spread it unknowingly to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations. Those with the COVID-19 virus can spread it when they don’t have symptoms.
Vaccination pace remains stagnant
More than 2.7 million residents 16 and older now have at least one vaccine dose; more than 2.3 million have completed their vaccinations as of Monday’s update.
That works out to about 53.1 percent of the 16-and-older population completely vaccinated and 61.6 percent with at least one shot, including 88 percent of those 65 and older. The vaccination pace has plummeted in recent weeks.
Eligible Minnesotans can now walk in for a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment at the state’s community vaccination program locations.
State health officials are not yet reporting vaccinations among newly eligible 12-to-15-year-olds, but over the weekend they reported nearly 15,000 new vaccinations of people with “unknown” age.
Most of these are probably 12-to-15-year-olds who aren’t being properly reported by the Health Department’s computer systems, designed in a world where the minimum age for COVID-19 vaccines was 16.
Latest developments from around Minnesota
Target drops mask requirement for fully vaccinated shoppers
Minneapolis-based Target said employees and customers who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear face masks in stores, unless mandated by local ordinances.
The company said it will "strongly" recommend that those who are not fully vaccinated use face coverings. Target said its policy change is consistent with CDC recommendations.
Face coverings will still be required for everyone in places where local ordinances require them.
— Mark Zdechlik | MPR News
Despite new guidance, masks still required in Minnesota school buildings
Minnesota school leaders are reminding families, students and staff that masks are still required in school buildings.
Gov. Tim Walz lifted Minnesota’s mask mandate Friday, but said students and staff need to continue to wear masks through the end of the school year.
Deb Henton, the executive director of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, said school leaders have been getting angry and concerned emails about the new guidance.
“There’s a fair amount of frustration on the part of our school leaders who’ve had a long year and who’ve held firm and have followed the mandates,” Henton said, “and then we now have something that seems to be contradictory and a really hard message for some of our kids and families to receive.”
Children ages 12 to 15 received federal approval for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine earlier this week, while younger students are still not eligible for vaccination.
— Elizabeth Shockman | MPR News
Top headlines
Could teenagers make vaccinations cool again? Teenagers are now a crucial part of public health officials’ efforts to get more people vaccinated now that the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for children 12 and older. This isn’t the first time that teenagers have played an important role in a vaccination campaign. More than 50 years ago, they helped popularize the polio vaccine.
COVID-19 in Minnesota
Data in these graphs are based on the Minnesota Department of Health's cumulative totals released at 11 a.m. daily. You can find more detailed statistics on COVID-19 at the Health Department website.