Minnesota’s COVID death toll surpasses 8,000

The Minnesota Department of Health has reported 18 new deaths, pushing the state’s death toll past 8,000.

Tuesday’s daily update encompasses reports from the weekend and Monday, so numbers are higher than usual.

Tuesday’s deaths included one person in their 40’s, two people in their 50’s, four victims in their 60’s, six patients in their 70’s, and five people in their 80’s.  Thirteen deaths were private residents, five were from long-term care.  Sixteen deaths occurred this month, say state health officials, while one happened in August.  The remaining death came from December 2020.

Minnesota’s death toll now sits at 8,011.

A hospital capacity report shows Minnesota’s hospitalizations at 791, an uptick from the 2021 high reported on Monday.  However, intensive care hospitalizations are down by eight, with 222 patients currently in ICU.

South Central Minnesota, which includes Blue Earth, Nicollet, and the surrounding counties is is at about 87% capacity, with 13% – or three- staffed ICU beds available. Non-ICU bed capacity is at about 77%.

MDH also reported another 6,352 new infections Tuesday.  Here are the counties in Southern Minnesota reporting new cases:

Blue Earth – 114 (2 probable)
Brown – 50
Cottonwood – 10 (3 probable)
Faribault – 14
Fillmore – 32 (2 probable)
Freeborn – 36
Jackson – 1 probable
Le Sueur – 28 (2 probable)
Lyon – 29 (7 probable)
Martin – 41 (3 probable)
McLeod – 85 (3 probable)
Mower – 78 (4 probable)
Murray – 2 (3 probable)
Nicollet – 46 (4 probable)
Nobles – 20 (10 probable)
Redwood – 33 (5 probable)
Renville – 24
Rice – 57 (5 probable)
Sibley – 14 (3 probable)
Steele – 76 (3 probable)
Waseca – 42 (1 probable)
Watonwan – 11 (1 probable)