MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota for the first time since April 13 reported zero deaths in its daily situation update for COVID-19.
The number comes with caveats, including that daily COVID-19 reports have always been lower on Mondays, and reflect when investigations are complete rather than when deaths actually occur. The number nonetheless is a sign of hope after a full year of the pandemic in Minnesota.
Overall, the state has reported 6,782 deaths due to COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus. The state on the other hand on Monday reported 1,152 newly diagnosed infections — a high total for a Monday — bringing Minnesota's total case count to 506,376.
Health officials remain concerned that new, more infectious variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus could disrupt pandemic progress in Minnesota. The positivity rate of diagnostic testing increased again to 4.5%, inching closer to Minnesota's warning threshold of 5% for significant viral spread.
The number of Minnesota hospital beds with COVID-19 patients also reached 318 on Sunday, up from a low of 210 on March 6 but well below the peak of 1,864 on Nov. 29.
Health officials have said Minnesota is in a race between these viral variants and vaccination progress. The state on Monday reported that 1,430,349 people have received a COVID-19 vaccine, and that 850,829 people have completed the series either by receiving two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna versions or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson version. That means 25.7% of Minnesotans have received vaccine and 15.3% of Minnesotans have completed vaccination.
Gov. Tim Walz's target goal is for 80% of eligible Minnesotans to be vaccinated in order to achieve a level of statewide immunity that halts viral spread.
Vaccine is prioritized for senior citizens, health care workers, educators, long-term care residents and non-elderly adults with certain underlying health conditions or high-risk occupations. The vaccine has not been approved in the U.S. for anyone younger than 16.
Whether due to vaccination, COVID-19 fatigue or spring restlessness, Minnesotans' habits amid the pandemic are changing. Mobility levels had been 30% below normal in mid-February, but rebounded to 12% below normal in Minnesota, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Washington state, while the share of people who always wear masks in public declined from 79% to 75% in the same time frame.
Minnesota also technically recorded zero deaths on four major holidays over the past year, but only because the state didn't issue situation reports on those dates.
