COVID deaths in Blue Earth, Nicollet, Waseca counties

Another 53 COVID-19 deaths were reported Sunday by state health officials, including five deaths in three local counties.

The data released by the Minnesota Department of Health spanned two days, Jan 1 and 2, pushing the state’s death toll to 5,430.

Two deaths were reported in Blue Earth County, a person in their 80’s and a person in their 90’s. Waseca County also reported two deaths, both involving people in their 70’s. In Nicollet County, a person in their 90’s died.

MDH says 35 of the total deaths involved residents of long-term care or assisted living, while 17 were private residents. One of the deaths was a person living in a group home.

Additionally, MDH reported another 2,714 new virus infections Sunday. Here are the counties in Southern Minnesota reporting new cases:

Blue Earth – 19
Brown – 9
Cottonwood – 5
Faribault – 7
Fillmore – 4
Freeborn – 14
Jackson – 1 (1 probable)
Le Sueur – 7 (1 probable)
Lyon – 12
Martin – 4
McLeod – 20 (2 probable)
Mower – 10 (2 probable)
Murry – 2 probable
Nicollet – 12 (1 probable)
Nobles – 3
Redwood – 1
Renville – 7
Rice – 29
Sibley – 4 (1 probable)
Steele – 7
Waseca – 7
Watonwan – 9