REGIONAL — The Minnesota Department of Health recorded 18 new deaths and 851 more residents testing positive for COVID-19 during the 24-hour period that ended at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Among the 18 deaths were eight individuals who resided in private residences and 10 who were residents of a long-term care or assisted living facilities. The death toll from the virus in Minnesota now stands at 6,124, including 3,887 residents of long-term care facilities.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in the area remained low, with Nobles County recording four new positive or probable tests, followed by Cottonwood, Jackson and Murray counties with three new cases each, and Pipestone and Rock counties reporting two new cases each during the 24-hour period.
The state’s cumulative total of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases now stands at 457,317 (positive and antigen tests), with 441,740 beyond the 10-day isolation period. Thus far, 35,770 Minnesota health care workers have contracted the virus.
A local snapshot of COVID-19, with current cumulative positive and probable test results, as well as recovery data (beyond the 10-day isolation period) and positivity rate among those tested, based on a weekly reported issued Jan. 21 by MDH shows:
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Nobles County: 3,752 cases; 3,642 recoveries (as of Monday); 18.3% positivity rate; 47 deaths.
Cottonwood County: 1,296 cases; 1,226 recoveries; 9.9% positivity rate; 18 deaths.
Jackson County: 879 cases; 824 recoveries; 10.2% positivity rate; 10 deaths.
Murray County: 916 cases; 857 recoveries; 9.2% positivity rate; seven deaths.
Pipestone County: 977 cases; 892 recoveries; 7.9% positivity rate; 23 deaths.
Rock County: 1,125 cases; 1,062 recoveries; 8.2% positivity rate; 12 deaths.
A walk-through COVID-19 saliva testing site is open at the Worthington Event Center, 1447 Prairie Drive. Appointments are encouraged at mncovidtestingappt.as.me/schedule.php, although walk-ins are welcome. Hours for free testing are noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
People are asked to stay home if sick or someone in their home is awaiting results of a COVID test. Hand washing with soap for at least 20 seconds, physical distancing, staying out of crowded/confined spaces with others, and wearing face masks in public places is still advised.
Congregate care facilities with COVID-19 exposures as of Jan. 22 included Ecumen Meadows, Worthington; Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake; Lindenwood Assisted Living, Slayton; Maple Lawn and Maplewood Court, Fulda; and the Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne.
The Iowa Department of Health reports 315,180 cases of COVID-19 since testing began, with 277,826 recoveries. Thus far, 4,500 deaths are blamed on COVID-19 in the state.
In northwest Iowa:
Dickinson County: 1,894 positive cases (two new cases); 1,684 recovered; 29 deaths.
Lyon County: 1,382 positive cases (three new cases); 1,227 recovered; 33 deaths.
Osceola County: 650 positive cases (no new cases); 603 recovered; 11 deaths.
Johns Hopkins University reports a nationwide cumulative total of 25,450,135 positive cases of COVID-19 as of 10:30 a.m. today. Thus far, 425,406 Americans have died from the virus.
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