(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Health reports 1,660 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 deaths on Wednesday. The death count includes a Wright County resident who was in their 50s.
The five-county area adds 206 new cases.
- 23 in Benton County
- 8 in Morrison County
- 66 in Sherburne County
- 47 in Stearns County
- 62 in Wright County
The state processed more than 22,000 COVID-19 tests on Tuesday for a one-day positivity rate of 7.4 percent. Minnesota’s seven-day average test positivity has been steadily rising through the month of March, an increase state health leaders attribute to the spread of more contagious variants of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, almost 30 percent of Minnesota residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. 18.5 percent of the population is now fully vaccinated. On Tuesday, Minnesota hit two vaccine milestones: 1 million people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and opening up eligibility for the vaccine to all residents age 16 and older.
Minnesota’s latest vaccination data shows that a racial and ethnic disparity in vaccine administration persists. As of March 20th, 90.2 percent of vaccine recipients are white, though 81.6 percent of Minnesota’s population is white. MDH’s data shows that other racial and ethnic groups are underrepresented in the vaccinated population proportionate to Minnesota’s general population. For example, Black and African American residents make up 6 percent of the state’s population, but they have only received 3 percent of the share of vaccines so far.
Here are Minnesota’s latest data for vaccination among residents age 15 and older:
- General population — 37.6 percent partially or fully vaccinated
- White — 29.6 percent
- Multiracial — 4.9 percent
- Hispanic — 11.1 percent
- Black/African American — 16.1 percent
- Asian/Pacific Islander — 17.6 percent
- American Indian — 19.3 percent
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