Over 2,500 New COVID-19 Cases Reported on Thursday

The state reported 2,535 new COVID-19 cases along with 14 new deaths, one of which was in the Lakeland viewing area, a Beltrami County resident between 80-84 years old.

The new cases came from 44,111 tests for a case positivity rate of 5.7%.

In the Lakeland viewing area, there 151 new cases in the following counties:

• Aitkin – 5
• Beltrami – 11
• Cass – 9
• Crow Wing – 32
• Hubbard – 3
• Itasca – 11
• Koochiching – 10
• Lake of the Woods – 3
• Mahnomen – 5
• Mille Lacs – 20
• Morrison – 20
• Polk – 6
• Roseau – 4
• Todd – 9
• Wadena – 3

Health officials have expressed concern regarding the steady rise in cases and hospitalizations, citing a growing seven-day test positivity rate that indicates community transmission of the virus. Officials hope the state’s efforts to vaccinate populations more susceptible to the virus will prevent a significiant spike in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Right now, despite increasing vaccine allotments, there are still more people wanting the vaccine than there is vaccine available.

More than 3 million doses of the vaccine have been administered as of Tuesday. About 1.9 million Minnesotans have received at least one dose, and more than 1.2 million have been fully vaccinated.