COVID-19 Thursday update: 57 more Minnesota deaths; 2.1m KN95 masks to be distributed

Christopher Magan, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·4 min read

Jan. 27—Minnesota health officials reported 57 more COVID-19 fatalities on Thursday along with 14,633 new infections as the latest omicron-driven wave continues to impact the state.

The latest deaths to be reported ranged in age from their 40s to more than 100. It includes a Ramsey County resident in their early 40s and a Dakota County resident in their late 40s.

Thirteen of the latest reported fatalities lived in long-term care, 43 in private homes and one resided in a behavioral health facility. The death toll is now 11,339 with about 47 percent of fatalities residents of nursing homes and assisted living.

Another 150 fatalities have COVID-19 listed as the caused of death on the death certificate, but those people never had a positive coronavirus test.

Minnesota continues to report more than 30 COVID-19 fatalities each day on average.

The Minnesota Department of Health's delayed measure of test-positivity remains at nearly 23 percent. The state's belated measure of cases per capita stands at about 216 new infections per 100,000 people per day.

Despite those high rates, there are signs the omicron wave has peaked in Minnesota, including a declining presence of coronavirus genetic material in the Twin Cities metro sewage.

Hospital capacity remains challenging across much of the state. There are 1,543 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 320 in intensive care.

An estimated 53,500 Minnesotans with active infections are recovering at home.

Vaccines are the best way to avoid severe infection and to slow the spread of the coronavirus, health officials say. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows unvaccinated people are far more likely to catch the coronavirus and to die from it.

However, omicron has shown an ability to evade much of the initial protection vaccines provide against infection. Boosters restore much of that protection and are urged for anyone 12 and older.

Minnesota has administered 9.1 million doses of vaccine, including 2 million boosters. About 73.5 percent of eligible residents, age 5 and older, have gotten at least one dose.

Just under 65 percent of the state's 5.7 million people have completed their initial vaccination series. But that leaves more than 1.5 million unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people at risk of infection and its worst consequences: hospitalization and death.

Masks also continue to be recommended to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and medical-grade face coverings are best.

MINNESOTA TO BEGIN DISTRIBUTING KN95 MASKS

To that end, Minnesota plans to distribute 2.1 million KN95 masks in the coming weeks through schools and community groups.

Of the millions of masks, 650,000 will go to public health agencies; 550,000 to schools; and the rest to clinics, child care centers, health department COVID-19 community coordinators and tribal nations, according to a Thursday announcement.

Minnesota Department of Health spokesman Doug Schultz said the masks come from a large personal protective equipment stockpile the state established during the pandemic. Minnesota acquired the masks from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at no cost and purchased others with state and federal emergency funds, Schultz said.

Public health agencies recommend N95 or KN95 masks over standard cloth masks as protection against the highly contagious omicron variant.

"Throughout the pandemic we have built a strong partnership with schools, local public health agencies, community groups, and others to make sure Minnesotans can access the tools they need to safely navigate COVID-19," Gov. Tim Walz said in the Thursday statement. "That includes KN95 masks, which are especially important as we confront the highly contagious omicron variant.

"Studies constantly show that high-quality masks like KN95s better protect wearers from COVID-19 and help slow the spread of the virus. As we navigate the difficult weeks ahead, make sure you mask up in public to protect yourself, your family, and your community."

Minnesota is distributing masks as the federal government begins its own distribution of 400 million masks to pharmacies and community health centers across the country.

For more information about Minnesota's pandemic response, as well as testing and vaccines, visit mn.gov/covid19 or call 1-833-431-2053.

This report includes information from the Forum News Service.