39 COVID-19 deaths reported over the weekend; ICU hospitalizations spike

(Mankato, MN) – The weekend brought 39 new COVID-19 deaths and an increase in patients requiring hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU).

The deaths cause by COVID-19 bring Minnesota’s total to 722, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

One of the deaths reported came from Nicollet County, which now has 37 confirmed cases of the virus, and a total of three deaths.   MDH reports the deceased patient was in their 80’s.

Overall, hospitalizations dropped by 11 between Friday and Sunday.  But on Saturday, there were 225 patients in the ICU, an increase of 25 from the previous report.  As of Sunday, 221 people are in the ICU, according to MDH data.

MDH reports that over 150,000 tests have been completed, with 15,668 testing positive for the virus.

Here are the case totals for area counties:

Blue Earth – 83
Brown – 10 (2 deaths)
Cottonwood – 56
Faribault – 10
Fillmore – 17 (1 death)
Freeborn – 61
Le Sueur – 35 (1 death)
Martin – 118 (5 deaths)
Mower – 58
Nicollet – 37 (3 deaths)
Nobles – 1,361 (2 deaths)
Redwood – 3
Renville – 5
Rice – 240 (2 deaths)
Sibley – 9
Steele – 105
Waseca – 20
Watonwan – 41