Sunday update: 28 more dead from coronavirus in Minnesota
Another 28 people have died of the new coronavirus in Minnesota. It's the highest single-day death toll from COVID-19 as the outbreak continues to tighten its grip on the state, with 156 more patients testing positive to bring the total count to 3,602 since the first case was diagnosed March 6.
There were 2,390 tests conducted in the 24 hours that ended 4 p.m. Saturday, which comes amid a ramp-up of the state's testing capability and as such we're seeing higher numbers of cases. It's the fourth straight day the state has conducted at least 2,200 tests.
A collaboration between Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota is expected to have the state testing 20,000 patients per day within 2-4 weeks. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said last week not to be surprised if the number of confirmed cases in a single day reaches 1,000 as testing is rolled out.
- Confirmed cases: 3,602 (up from 3,446)
- Deaths: 272 (up from 244)
- Total hospitalized: 829 (up from 797)
- Still hospitalized: 285 (down from 288)
- Patients in intensive care: 115 (up from 109).
- Patient recoveries: 1,774 (up from 1,654).
One of the hot spots of outbreak in Minnesota is at a JBS pork plant in Worthington, which has fueled a spike in the number of positive tests in Nobles County, which has jumped to 352 today, including one death.
Hennepin County has had 177 deaths from 1,332 confirmed cases.
Because of widespread community transmission, there are many more assumed cases of COVID-19 – possibly 100 times the number of confirmed cases – that thus far have not been formally diagnosed because of testing limitations.
The age range for confirmed cases has been as young as 4 weeks old to 104 years old, with a median age of 52, while the average age of persons who have died from the disease is 83.
