REGIONAL — Minnesota recorded 2,104 additional cases of COVID-19 during the 24-hour period that ended at 4 p.m. Friday, according to Saturday’s update from the Minnesota Department of Health. The new cases included four each in Cottonwood and Rock counties, three in Nobles County, and two each in Jackson, Murray and Pipestone counties.
The cumulative total of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Minnesota now stands at 566,687 (positive and antigen tests), with 542,520 beyond the 10-day isolation period. Thus far, 40,951 Minnesota health care workers have contracted the virus.
Eight deaths were recorded during the 24-hour period, including four individuals who resided in private residences and four who lived in a long-term care/assisted living facility. Minnesota’s death toll from the virus now stands at 7,072, including 4,348 residents of long-term care facilities.
A local snapshot of COVID-19, with current cumulative positive and probable test results and deaths as reported by MDH, recovery data (beyond the 10-day isolation period) as of April 22, and the percentage of residents aged 16 and older who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Wednesday shows:
Nobles County: 4,026 cases; 3,921 recoveries; 48 deaths; 54%. As of Thursday, 43 residents were within their 10-day isolation period. This included four individuals aged birth to 10; seven aged 11-15; four aged 16-19; five aged 20-25; 16 aged 26 to 50; three aged 51-64; and four aged 65 and older.
Cottonwood County: 1,595 cases; 1,508 recoveries; 21 deaths; 53%.
Jackson County: 1,199 cases; 1,139 recoveries; 10 deaths; 44%.
Murray County: 1,037 cases; 1,009 recoveries; nine deaths; 49%.
Pipestone County: 1,113 cases; 1,049 recoveries; 26 deaths; 50%.
Rock County: 1,244 cases; 1,193 recoveries; 19 deaths; 47%.
A free saliva testing site for COVID-19 is open at the Worthington Event Center from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The testing site will be closed April 29-30, May 1-2 and May 6-9.
Area long-term care facilities reporting COVID-19 exposures as of April 22 include Colonial Manor in Lakefield; Good Samaritan Society facilities in Windom, Pipestone and Luverne; Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Ecumen Meadows in Worthington; Parkview Manor in Ellsworth and the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.
ADVERTISEMENT
All Minnesota residents aged 16 and older are now eligible for coronavirus vaccines. The Public Health department encourages all eligible individuals to seek vaccination. Private providers in Worthington include Access Family Medical Clinic/Avera Medical Group, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Sanford Health, Sterling Drug and Walgreens.
The Iowa Department of Health reports 392,108 cases of COVID-19 since testing began. Thus far, 5,927 deaths are blamed on the novel coronavirus in the state.
In northwest Iowa:
Dickinson County: 2,633 positive cases (four new cases); 2,207 recovered; 43 deaths.
Lyon County: 1,565 positive cases (two new cases); 1,458 recovered; 41 deaths.
Osceola County: 800 positive cases (no new cases); 696 recovered; 16 deaths.
Johns Hopkins University reports a nationwide cumulative total of 31,997,285 positive cases of COVID-19 as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Thus far, 571,246 Americans have died from the virus.
As a public service, we’ve opened this article to everyone regardless of subscription status. If this coverage is important to you, please consider supporting local journalism by clicking on the subscribe button in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.
