[News] Latest on COVID-19 in MN: Signs of an uptick in vaccination pace

[_Happy boy]

 

3 things to know
63.1 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older with at least one vaccine dose; 56 percent — more than 2.4 million people — are now completely vaccinated

New cases trending at lowest level since late September; hospitalizations trending near two-month low

Minnesota tops 5 million doses administered, but vaccination pace still languishing

Updated: 11:35 a.m.
For the first time in more than two weeks, Minnesota is averaging more than 40,000 COVID-19 vaccinations each day.

That increasing vaccination rate is driven by a big rise in reported first vaccine doses — now averaging more than 17,000 a day, up from fewer than 10,000 a day a week ago.

Backlogged data reported in recent days accounts for some, but not all of that rise. It remains to be seen whether the recent uptick is a brief blip, or something lasting, as the state works to break out of what had been several weeks of sluggish vaccination numbers.

Minnesota was averaging 60,000 shots a day at one point last month before the numbers began dropping.

Meanwhile, the state reported nine more COVID-19 deaths and 599 more cases on Saturday. Averaged over the past week, the number of new cases each day is at its lowest point since September.

Projections by MPR News data reporter David Montgomery
Here are Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 statistics:

7,363 deaths (9 new)

598,327 positive cases; 98 percent off isolation

63.1 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older with at least one vaccine dose; 56 percent completely vaccinated

Sign upAnalysis of COVID-19 data in Minnesota
Get vaccinatedHow to get a COVID-19 shot in Minnesota
Top headlinesFrom MPR News
Tracking the spreadCOVID-19 in Minnesota
Active cases, hospitalizations trending down
Despite concerns around the vaccination rate, the overall pandemic picture remains solid.

 

 

The state has recorded 598,327 total confirmed or probable cases so far in the pandemic, including the 599 posted Friday — the seventh consecutive day of fewer than 1,000 new cases. About 98 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.