3 things to know

• Case numbers, hospital stays ebb away

• The first grader in southwest Minnesota died on Sunday from complications from COVID-19

• About 56 percent of Minnesotans ages 16 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine. 41 percent fully vaccinated

The state’s latest COVID-19 numbers suggest that the current boom in active cases and hospital stays may have increased. However, this hopeful news is a sad reminder of the pain of the pandemic: A first grader died on Sunday from the consequences of COVID-19.

Here are Minnesota’s latest COVID-19 statistics::

• 7,079 deaths

• 569,440 positive cases; 96 percent discount on insulation

• About 56 percent of Minnesotans ages 16 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine. 41 percent fully vaccinated

The child’s death “simply heartbreaking,” says Walz

The child who died in southwest Minnesota on Sunday was a first grader at Park Side Elementary School in Marshall.

“I see this is frightening and worrying for many,” wrote Jeremy Williams, the school district’s superintendent, in a letter to parents. “We encourage you to continue to monitor your students for signs of COVID. If your student is showing symptoms, please take them for testing immediately. “

Williams said the district has followed all state and federal COVID-19 guidelines and is providing crisis support for those who need it.

The news comes just days after state health officials raised concerns about the spread of COVID-19 among school-age children.

“While COVID-related child deaths are rare, they can also occur in otherwise healthy children,” the state health ministry said in a statement on Monday confirming the child’s death.

More than 56,000 children under the age of 14 in Minnesota have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. More than 400 of these children were hospitalized; 99 were admitted to the intensive care unit. Three children have since died as a result of the disease.

Governor Tim Walz expressed his condolences to the relatives of the deceased child on Monday.

“It’s just heartbreaking to hear that COVID-19 took the life of someone so young,” Walz said in a statement. “My thoughts go with the Minnesota family as they mourn the loss of their beloved child. There is no grief greater than losing a family. “

Active cases, hospital, intensive care unit have to resign

Overall, hospital stays had risen significantly in recent weeks and were at a level that had not been reached since January. However, Monday’s numbers showed 613 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized in Minnesota, a marked decrease from last week.

The number of patients requiring an ICU bed is also starting to decline, from 202 on Friday to 179 on Monday.

Known, active cases came in at 15,340 on Monday – the lowest since April 1.

Given the state’s vaccination efforts, officials said they didn’t expect this wave to match the 50,000 active cases recorded in late November, but they remained concerned about the surge in new COVID-19 strains.

The percentage of COVID-19 tests that come back positive has continued to decline after a recent boom. The trend line on Monday fell just below the 5 percent threshold established by experts.

The state has so far recorded a total of 569,440 confirmed or probable cases in the pandemic, including the 1,197 published Monday. Approximately 96 percent of Minnesotans known to be infected with COVID-19 in the pandemic have recovered to a point where they no longer need to be isolated.

Regionally, all parts of Minnesota are in better shape than in late November and early December. The number of cases had increased across the state in the past few weeks, but the trend seems to have peaked.

The youth are still a problem

As the numbers improve, officials continue to stress that the pandemic is not over yet.

Minnesota officials say they want more tests for middle and high school students because they are increasingly concerned about the spread of COVID-19 among younger people, especially those who participate in youth sports.

State health and education officials on Thursday released updated guidelines urging athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers and other youth sports participants to get tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.

Students who do not participate in sports or other group activities are “still strongly encouraged” to test every two weeks, they said. Middle and high schools are recommended to offer on-site testing.

People in their twenties are still the age group with the largest number of confirmed cases in the state – more than 106,000 since the pandemic began, including more than 55,000 among the 20- to 24-year-olds.

The number of high school age adolescents confirmed with the disease has also increased. More than 46,000 15 to 19 year olds are known to be infected during the pandemic.

While young people are less likely to experience the worst effects of the disease and be hospitalized, experts fear they will unwittingly pass it on to older relatives and members of other vulnerable populations. Those with the COVID-19 virus can spread it if they don’t have symptoms.

The vaccination rate evens out

Minnesota enters the last week of April after breaking the milestone of 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses given to citizens since vaccinations began in December.

That includes more than 2.4 million residents 16 and older with at least one vaccine dose and more than 1.8 million Minnesotans who have completed their vaccinations, state health officials updated Monday.

That’s roughly 41 percent of the population 16 and older who are fully vaccinated and about 56 percent with at least one shot, including 86 percent of those 65 and older.

Projections by MPR News data reporter David Montgomery

David H. Montgomery | MPR news

The state’s vaccination efforts have been hampered in recent weeks by supply cuts, particularly the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which federal agencies paused earlier this month as they investigated the possibility of rare side effects related to the shot.

The pace could accelerate after federal health officials lifted the hiatus on use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Friday.

Top headlines

In rural Minn. Fighting vaccine reluctance in one community at a time: Health officials say there are many reasons people don’t get vaccinated – including lack of transportation, limited access to technology, concerns about the safety of the vaccine, and political beliefs about the pandemic.

Legislation is split over the end of the COVID-19 eviction rule: In just a few weeks, Minnesota lawmakers will attempt to merge competing plans if rental evictions can take place. The bills aim to address what was imposed following an eviction moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 in Minnesota

The data in these charts is based on the Minnesota Department of Health’s cumulative totals, published daily at 11 a.m. More detailed statistics on COVID-19 can be found on the Ministry of Health’s website.

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