Minnesota health officials recorded 11 more COVID-19 fatalities Monday, and more than 2,693 coronavirus case were reported by the state Department of Health.
The latest fatalities to be reported ranged in age from their 50s to their 90s with nine residing in private homes and two in long-term care. Ten of the deaths occurred in September and one in August.
As of Friday, there were 678 patients hospitalized, including 187 in critical condition. An estimated 14,000 Minnesotans with active cases are recovering at home.
The rate of test-positivity, new cases and hospitalizations all remain well above the caution thresholds health officials use to determine if an outbreak is under control. Health officials worry that cases numbers could grow larger after the conclusion of the Minnesota State Fair and with schools back in session.
There have already been 69 coronavirus infections tied to the 12-day State Fair, which concluded on Labor Day, and more are expected. Last week, there were six schools with five or more confirmed cases in students and staff.
Health officials say genetic sequencing of select test samples show that nearly all new infections are the more contagious delta variant. Vaccines remain the best way to avoid a severe infection and to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Out of 3 million fully vaccinated Minnesotans, more than 99 percent have not reported a breakthrough infection. There have been 18,790 breakthrough cases since vaccination began, and 1,095 of those have been hospitalized and 108 have died.
Minnesota has administered 6.2 million doses of vaccine, and 3.3 million residents have gotten at least one dose. More than 72 percent of residents 16 and older have gotten at least one shot and more than 90 percent of seniors are fully vaccinated.
For more information on vaccines or to get tested for COVID-19, visit mn.gov/covid19.