The state reported 257 new coronavirus cases on Friday and eight new COVID-19 related deaths. One of the deaths came from a resident in the Lakeland viewing area:

• A resident in Beltrami County between the ages of 75-79

The new cases came from 26,453 tests for a case positivity rate of 0.97%. The seven-day rolling average for case positivity is at 2.1%. State officials are hoping to keep the weekly average below 5%.

In the Lakeland viewing area, there were 29 new confirmed cases reported in the following counties:

• Aitkin – 6
• Beltrami – 3
• Cass – 1
• Crow Wing – 4
• Hubbard – 1
• Itasca – 6
• Koochiching – 1
• Lake of the Woods – 1
• Mille Lacs – 2
• Morrison – 2
• Polk – 1
• Wadena – 1

By — Destiny Wiggins