COVID-19 in MN: State reaches 70% goal for 1st vaccinations 16 and up
About 70 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older have gotten at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.
It's a milestone Gov. Tim Walz had hoped to meet by July 1, but fell short of that goal as demand for vaccines slowed.
“The data is clear: vaccines are our key to fighting COVID-19 and the delta variant, and millions of Minnesotans rolled up their sleeves to protect themselves, their families, and their communities,” Walz said in a statement.
Since then, two factors have started to push demand for the vaccine up again: $100 incentives from the state to get a shot and growing spread of the delta variant, which has been hitting unvaccinated younger people harder than the original version of the virus.
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To date, 64.4 percent of all Minnesotans eligible for the shot have completed their vaccinations.
Currently, vaccines are only available to people 12 and older.
The latest on COVID-19 in Minnesota
The state positivity rate accelerated Thursday, continuing a trend of COVID-19 cases increasing over the past month. Thursday’s reported 1,318 new positive cases continue a trend since Friday of over 1,000 cases reported a day. The seven-day average of new cases is currently at around 967.
The seven-day case positivity rate has moved to 4.51 percent, an upward trend since July 1.
Although deaths are higher this week, the trend remains at 10 deaths reported or lower, a continuing pattern since early June. The seven-day average has increased to about five deaths per day.
