More Minnesotans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 than at any other time in 2021, illustrating the ongoing impact of the state’s fourth wave of infections due to the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.
The Minnesota Department of Health reports that as of Friday there were 1,007 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 246 in intensive care. Available hospital beds continue to be in short supply because of staffing shortages.
Only 50 of the 1,158 total intensive care beds were open across the entire state and about 480 of the state’s 7,331 regular hospital beds were empty, according to the state Department of Health. Gov. Tim Walz announced Friday he was asking the Minnesota National Guard to help address dwindling hospital capacity.
Demand for hospital beds, as well as COVID-19 deaths, are both seen as lagging indicators of a surge in coronavirus cases. The state’s ongoing spike of infections is now more than 2 months old, though the seven-day average of new cases has declined slightly.
The state Department of Health reported 29 new COVID-19 fatalities Monday. Those whose deaths were reported ranged in age from their late 30s to their late 90s.
Five of those who died lived in long-term care facilities and 24 resided in private homes. One of the deaths happened in September and the rest of the fatalities occurred in October.
There also were 2,868 new infections reported Monday, the result of about 44,800 tests. Positivity rates remain well above the caution threshold health officials use to determine if the outbreak is under control.
Vaccines are the best way to avoid a severe infection and to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Of the 3.2 million Minnesotans who are fully vaccinated, more than 98 percent have not reported a breakthrough infection.
However, breakthrough cases are becoming more common. As of Monday, 45,827 cases had been reported in people who were fully vaccinated, with 2,718 people requiring hospital care and 234 deaths. Those COVID-19 victims are typically elderly and have compromised immune systems.
People who are fully vaccinated are roughly one-tenth as likely to be hospitalized and even less likely to die than those who are unvaccinated, according to a recent study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Minnesota has administered 6.6 million doses of vaccine, and 3.4 million of the state’s 5.7 million residents have gotten at least one shot. Nearly 73 percent of those who are eligible, ages 12 and older, have gotten at least one dose of vaccine.
On Monday, Walz said the state would offer incentives to encourage 12- to 17-year-olds to get vaccinated. Minnesotans in that age group have the lowest levels of vaccination, with fewer than 60 percent receiving their first dose.
