COVID-19 in MN: 31 new cases in tri-county area; state reports 697 new cases

Stearns, Benton and Sherbune counties reported a combined 31 new cases of COVID-19 as the state confirmed 697 new cases Thursday.

Another seven Minnesotans died from COVID-19 according to Thursday's report from the Minnesota Department of Health. 

Stearns County reported 15 new cases, Sherburne County reported 16 new cases and Benton County reported two, according to the report. None of those counties reported any new deaths from COVID-19 Thursday.

Statewide, the number of people who tested positive for the novel coronavirus reached 62,993Thursday and 1,685 people have died, according to the health department. 

As of Thursday, 308 Minnesotans were hospitalized, with 154 requiring intensive care units. Since the start of the pandemic, 5,742 people have required hospitalization in the state.

According to MDH, 56,346 coronavirus patients no longer need isolation.

Globally, there are more than 20 million cases of COVID-19, including over 5.2 million in the U.S., according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html). About 750,490  people have died of the infection worldwide, including 166,148 people in the U.S.

Erik Newland is the suburbs reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach him at 320-255-8761 or enewland@stcloudtimes.com. Follow him on Twitter @SCTimesErik.

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