MDH COVID-19 briefing: 46 Minnesota infections linked to Sturgis rally, cluster outbreaks on the rise

Minnesota Department of Health officials addressed an array of topics during Friday’s COVID-19 briefing, including an update on state and national coronavirus numbers, increasing infections related to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and concerns over an increase in cluster outbreaks.

Updated numbers:

MDH Director of Infectious Diseases Kris Ehresmann gave an update on COVID-19 numbers around the world as well as in Minnesota.

Worldwide, cases passed 24.5 million with deaths just over 833,000. In the United States, cases have surpassed 5.8 million and deaths stand just over 181,000, as of Friday.

In Minnesota, there were 862 new cases of COVID-19 reported Friday, bringing the state’s total to 73,240 since the pandemic began. Four additional deaths were also reported, which brings the total in Minnesota to 1,810 deaths from COVID-19.

Ehresmann also reported that there are 301 people currently hospitalized and 137 in intensive care.

COVID-19 in Minnesota: 4 new deaths, 31 hospitalizations

College concerns:

Ehresmann once again noted that there is a large concern for potential outbreaks at colleges and universities as they reopen. She reminded students to quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus to help stop the spread of infection.

Ehresmann said, as of the week of Aug. 17, 254 cases have been reported related to college campuses. Of the 254 total cases, 90 of them related to individuals who had actually been on campus. There have been 51 total colleges around Minnesota who have reported at least one case and seven colleges have reported five cases or more. That is out of a total of almost 200 colleges in Minnesota, according to Ehresmann.

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Cluster outbreaks/Sturgis:

Infections related to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota that took place earlier this month are continuing to rise. Infections related to the event now stand at 46 confirmed cases with two individuals being hospitalized, one of which is in intensive care, Ehresmann said.

MDH is also beginning to see secondary transmission from the Sturgis cases. While those cases are not included in the total of 46, they are a concern, Ehresmann said. She also said that they are expecting to see more secondary transmission from these cases as the days continue.

Some of the secondary transmission from Sturgis cases came from a wedding, according to Ehresmann. MDH is concerned about an increase in cluster cases involving weddings, parties and other gatherings that are not following social distancing or masking recommendations.

MDH has identified 21 clusters related to events just in the month of August, Ehresmann said.