Minnesota Confirms 34 Deaths, 1,237 New COVID-19 Cases Wednesday

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(KNSI) – Minnesota adds 1,237 new cases of COVID-19 today with 34 newly reported deaths. This includes one person from Morrison County and one person from Stearns County.

Across the St. Cloud area, there are 114 new cases, 52 identified just in Stearns County. Benton County adds nine cases, Morrison County four, Sherburne County eight and Wright County 41.

Today’s test positivity rate is 6.7 percent, hovering just above the caution threshold of 5 percent test positivity. The Minnesota Department of Health considers community spread to be at high risk despite an overall downward trend in test positivity and cases over the past few weeks.

Hospitalizations are faring slightly better, too. Right now, 570 people are hospitalized in Minnesota hospitals for COVID-19, with 111 receiving intensive care.

As of Sunday, 200,840 Minnesotans have gotten their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. An additional 38,521 people have received both doses. The state’s pilot clinics will administer the first vaccinations in the state’s expanded effort to vaccinate educators, child care workers and seniors tomorrow after eligible Minnesotans claimed all 12,000 available appointments yesterday.