COVID-19 hospitalizations rise for fifth consecutive week in Minnesota

Author’s note, before diving into the data: Over the past few weeks, one of my young adult children got COVID-19, as did one of my colleague’s entire family, including her 3-year-old daughter, and another’s husband. I’ve noticed a few more people wearing masks in public places and I even visited one store that required everyone entering to wear a mask. A pharmacist reported that at-home tests were flying off the shelves. Sound familiar? 

If so, this is one instance of anecdotal evidence — mine and perhaps yours — matching the broader data. Minnesota is seeing an increase in COVID-19 activity. 

One hundred and fifty-one people were admitted to hospitals throughout the state with COVID-19 during the week ending July 6. Preliminary data for the week ending July 13 already shows 155 COVID-19 admissions. That is five consecutive weeks of increases.

It is also the sixth weekly increase in the seven weeks since this year’s low point: Fifty-four COVID-19 hospital admissions in the week ending May 25. 

While another four to five Minnesotans died, at least in part, due to COVID-19 each week in June, finalized data from the Minnesota Department of Health is not showing an uptick in COVID-19 deaths so far. That may be changing, however. Preliminary data from the health department shows 10 COVID-19 related deaths in the week ending July 13.

The state is now seeing an average of more than 20 people per day admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, which is higher than the daily average at this time in both 2023 and 2021, and similar to the level of hospitalizations in July 2020.

That said, COVID-19 hospitalizations remain much lower than they were at the start of the year, when an average of nearly 90 people per day were admitted with COVID-19, not to mention the pandemic’s highest 7-day average of 272 in mid-November 2020. 

Currently, there does not appear to be one central hotspot of COVID-19 activity in the state. Many rural counties register higher-than-average COVID-19 hospitalization rates — but many of these have only seen a handful of admissions. Four of the state’s six most populous counties all have higher-than-average hospitalization rates: Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington and especially Dakota — the exceptions are Anoka and St. Louis counties.  

Among the state’s 76 counties with fewer than 10,000 residents, only Isanti and Blue Earth have seen 10 or more COVID-19 hospitalizations. 

COVID-19 risks continue to be highest among older adults and those with health conditions. Minnesota Department of Health case detection reporting for assisted living and skilled nursing facilities shows that the number of cases for the week ending July 6 — 155 among residents and 105 among staff of these facilities — have increased back up to the levels last reported in March of this year.

Wastewater data, updated Friday, July 26, by the University of Minnesota’s on-going Wastewater Surveillance Study, also shows increasing COVID-19 activity in the state. Statewide COVID-19 levels went up by a relatively moderate 11 percent from July 10-17 but have increased by a more dramatic 159 percent over the 4-week period ending July 17.

COVID-19 levels detected in wastewater have now increased over each of the seven statewide readings June 26 through July 17, which is the most recent finalized datapoint.

The level of COVID-19 detected in wastewater treatment plants statewide is now back up to levels found in early March of this year. In the Twin Cities region, COVID-19 levels are now back up to those measured in February.

In response to our request for comment, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) stated: “The good news is, the current COVID-19 variants that are circulating don’t appear to show increased severity, they are simply more transmissible.” However, the department also noted the continued importance of stopping the spread, especially to vulnerable populations.

According to the MDH statement, advice for those who have contracted COVID-19 has not changed: “Contact your [health care] provider to determine if you are eligible to receive antivirals. Antiviral medication significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization and death among high-risk groups but is only beneficial if administered within the first 5 days after you develop symptoms. And of course, anyone who thinks they might have COVID-19 should stay home if they are sick, cover their cough and frequently wash their hands.” 

Vaccination remains a primary tool for preventing severe illness or even death from COVID-19. The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) reported on Thursday that updated COVID-19 vaccine formulations, which better match the now-dominant variants, will be available as soon as late August. CIDRAP also reported on a recent peer-reviewed study showing that people vaccinated against COVID-19 have had significantly better chances of avoiding long COVID. 

Note: For additional information, see the COVID-19 in Minnesota Key Data page, updated when new data is issued, typically on Thursdays.

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