Minnesota COVID-19 update

By Patti Cullen, CAE  |  July 28, 2023  |  All members

Status of COVID-19 in Minnesota
Updated July 20, 2023
  • Total positive including reinfections: 1,800,709
  • Total deaths: 14,896
  • Total cases requiring hospitalization: 85,763
  • Total cases hospitalized in ICU: 14,445

Numbers are cumulative since January 20, 2020.

The following is an update from the MPR COVID-19 Roundup:

The latest weekly data from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) continues to show low levels of COVID-19 circulation and impacts, although the remaining COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths are certainly serious for impacted individuals and their families. New hospital admissions with COVID-19 are up somewhat in the department’s most recent data, with 12 admissions reported on July 13—the first day with double digit COVID-19 admissions since the end of May. COVID-19 admissions remain well below the regular 50-per-day levels reported at the beginning of the year. This increase appears relatively minor. In fact, MDH reported zero intensive care admissions with COVID-19 in three days during the most recent week, ending July 13. 

While the recent wastewater, hospitalization, and mortality data raise few concerns about COVID-19 in Minnesota for humans, one new study did raise our interest. The US Department of Agriculture released a major new study showing COVID-19 transmission among white-tailed deer. These studies show that SARS-CoV-2 is likely to have spread widely within the U.S. white-tailed deer population. Additionally, the research shows that SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted from humans to deer, mutated, and was potentially transmitted back to humans. This research is helping us understand if cervids, such as white-tailed deer, are acting as a host or “reservoir species,” meaning an animal host where the virus can survive and potentially change. While experts are still learning about SARS-CoV-2 in animals, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus to humans.  


Patti Cullen, CAE
Patti Cullen, CAE  |  President/CEO  |   pcullen@careproviders.org  |  952-851-2487