MINNEAPOLIS — The unprecedented number of COVID-19 deaths continued Thursday with another 72 fatalities and 7,877 cases announced by state health officials.
It is another record-setting one-day increase in the state's coronavirus death tally. The previous high was reached just on Wednesday when 67 deaths were announced by the Minnesota Department of Health.
So far the pandemic has led to the deaths of 3,082 Minnesotans. Many of them pass away from lung-related COVID-19 complications, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure.
At least 249,906 Minnesotans have been sickened by the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
"It is everywhere," Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday in a televised address. "It is very difficult for us to even contact trace."
Cases are growing so fast in some counties that investigations into new COVID-19 infections have been suspended.
"As we continue to witness record setting increases, Olmsted County Public Health Services does not have the capacity to continue conducting case investigations and contact tracing for every individual who tests positive for COVID-19," the southeastern Minnesota county said in a statement earlier this week.
It joins Itasca County, which made a similar announcement last week.
"If you are in a group setting, just assume that someone has COVID," said Kelly Chandler, department manager for Itasca County Public Health, which will focus its efforts on protecting high-risk settings such as schools, child care facilities and long-term care.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are also at record highs with more than 1,700 hospital beds filled with COVID-19 patients in Minnesota.
Walz is scheduled to appear at a news conference Thursday, marking the fourth consecutive today that he has made public remarks about the pandemic. On Wednesday, he imposed a four-week closure of bars, restaurants, fitness centers, organized sports and other places where people gather.
The restrictions, which begin Saturday, also limit social gatherings to household members only. Bars and restaurants will still be able to provide takeout and delivery services.
"Order out but make sure we are spending money locally in these businesses," Walz said. "But sitting inside right now with the amount of community spread we have, we are not going to get a handle on this unless we put a pause on it."
