Counties in west central Minnesota reported 20 deaths and 2,000 new COVID-19 cases in state updates this week; hospitalizations have risen statewide

Linda Vanderwerf, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·5 min read

Dec. 4—WILLMAR — The region has recorded 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 20 deaths related to the coronavirus, according to updates from the Minnesota Department of Health.

The number of people hospitalized was 1,556 as of Thursday, about 100 more people higher than a week ago. The number includes 353 people in ICUs.

In the situation update from the Minnesota Department of Health, the state reported 62 newly reported deaths and 5,685 new cases Friday. The report is released five days a week at 11 a.m. and includes cases reported as of 4 a.m. the previous business day.

Because of a reporting delay over the Thanksgiving holiday, information in this week's update includes eight days, starting with Thanksgiving Day.

Stearns County had 12 deaths reported — one person in the 40-44 age category; two people age 50-54; two people age 55-59; two people age 75-79; two people age 80-84; two people age 90-94; and one person age 95-99.

Meeker County reported three deaths, all people in the 75-79 age category. Kandiyohi County reported the deaths of a person age 75-79 and one person age 80-84. Swift County reported two deaths, one person age 60-64 and one person age 80-84. Yellow Medicine reported the death of one person age 95-99.

New cases reported in area counties in the past week's updates include: Big Stone, 22; Chippewa, 57; Kandiyohi, 250; Lac qui Parle, 44; Meeker, 155; Pope, 68; Redwood, 60; Renville, 74; Stearns, 1,180; Swift, 46; and Yellow Medicine, 44.

The state's cumulative number of cases is now 926,931, which includes 916,317 total people testing positive and 10,614 reinfections. The state reports the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 again more than 90 days after an initial lab-confirmed positive test.

The state's current total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 is now at 9,616, which includes 278 more deaths than a week ago. About 52% of the deaths, 4,984, have occurred in long-term care or assisted living facilities.

In a report of its response capacity to the pandemic, the Health Department reported that 353 people with COVID-19 were in ICUs across the state as of Thursday, and 1,203 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized but not in an ICU. The number of people hospitalized is about 100 higher than a week ago.

The state also reports the hospital capacity of adult and pediatric beds. Of the state's eight pediatric ICU units, five reported having zero beds available. Of the 36 non-ICU pediatric units reporting, 23 hospitals, 64%, said they had zero non-ICU pediatric beds available.

Of 68 adult ICUs reporting, 55 of them, 81%, said they had zero beds available. Of 130 non-ICU hospitals reporting, 71 hospitals, 55%, said they had zero beds available.

Since the start of the pandemic, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases among residents confirmed to live in area counties, the number of deaths and the percentage of the population which has tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic includes:

The state is also reports daily vaccine administration numbers. As of Friday's report, 3,660,988 Minnesotans have received one dose and 3,381,610 have completed the vaccine series statewide. The number of fully vaccinated people is 34,626 higher than a week ago.

According to the figures available Friday, the percentage of individuals age 12 and over who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in area counties includes:

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Big Stone: 68.5%

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Chippewa: 64.5%

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Kandiyohi: 63.2%

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Lac qui Parle: 67%

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Meeker: 56.1%

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Pope: 63.5%

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Redwood: 62.1%

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Renville: 61.5%

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Stearns: 60.4%

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Swift: 63.6%

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Yellow Medicine: 61%

The vaccine data web page is updated at 11 a.m. weekdays, but there is a delay between a vaccine being given and when it is reported to the Minnesota Department of Health.

The state releases an updated list of school buildings that have reported five or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in students or staff who were in the building while infectious during a two-week reporting period.

Area school buildings on the list are as follows: MACCRAY Senior High, Clara City; MACCRAY West Elementary, Maynard; Montevideo Senior High; Community Christian School, Willmar; Lakeland Elementary, Willmar; Prairie Woods Elementary, New London; Willmar Area Learning Center; Kennedy Elementary, Willmar; Roosevelt Elementary, Willmar; Willmar Middle School; Willmar Senior High; Lac qui Parle Valley Secondary, Madison; Dawson-Boyd Secondary, Dawson; Stevens Elementary, Dawson; Eden Valley Secondary; Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Secondary, Grove City; Litchfield Middle School; Litchfield Senior High; Minnewaska Area Elementary, Glenwood; Minnewaska Area Intermediate School, Glenwood; Minnewaska Secondary, Glenwood; Reede Gray Elementary, Redwood Falls; Buffalo Lake-Hector Elementary, Buffalo Lake; Renville County West Elementary, Renville; Eden Valley Elementary; Paynesville Area High School, Paynesville; Paynesville Elementary; Benson Secondary; Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg Elementary, Murdock; Northside Elementary, Benson; Bert Raney Elementary, Granite Falls; Canby Elementary; Yellow Medicine East Middle School, Granite Falls; and Yellow Medicine East High School, Granite Falls.

School buildings listed may not have ongoing transmission. If they have not reported a new case for 28 days, they are removed from the list. If five or more cases are reported again in the future, they will be placed on the list again.

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