MDH: 6 cases test positive for COVID-19, including Hennepin Healthcare worker; total cases up to 60

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said on Tuesday six more cases have turned up positive for COVID-19. Minnesota’s total now stands at 60.

Of those cases, three patients have been hospitalized with one remaining in critical condition.

One of the positive cases is a Hennepin Healthcare employee, the company confirmed. Hennepin Healthcare said the person has a recent domestic travel history and has been doing well at home since becoming symptomatic. The company said a review was conducted of everyone the employee came in contact with and the public can be reassured everyone who may have had a risk of exposure has been contacted.

According to MDH, approximately 2,336 patients have been tested for the virus.

Counties with at least one positive test include Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Olmsted, Ramsey, Renville, Stearns, Wright, Waseca and Washington counties.

Those infected range in age from 17 to 94 but the bulk of cases are in people ages 37 to 71.

In a call Sunday afternoon, MDH confirmed the state’s first three cases of community spread illness, meaning it spread from person-to-person in the state rather than from exposure during travel as the previous cases had.

MDH said, due to community spread, there are likely many more undiagnosed cases.

As of Tuesday, 5,266 total cases have been found in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ninety-four people have died from the virus and 74 people have recovered in the country. Over 190,000 people have been tested positive for the coronavirus and over 7,500 deaths have been recorded, but more than 80,000 have recovered from it.

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