MDH: 526 new COVID-19 cases, surpass 27,000 total in state

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FILE - In this April 14, 2020 file photo, a woman holds her hand out to have blood collected for COVID-19 antibodies at a drive-thru site in Hempstead, N.Y. U.S. regulators on Monday, May 4 pulled back a decision that allowed scores of coronavirus blood tests to hit the market without first providing proof that they worked. The Food and Drug Administration said it took the action because some sellers have made false claims about the tests and their accuracy.[AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File]

Saturday, the Minnesota Department of Health reported there are 526 new cases that have tested positive for COVID-19, creating a total of 27,501 cases in the state.

MDH reports there are 1,170 total deaths, with 22 additional deaths reported Saturday. Of the entire total, 936 have occurred in long-term care or assisted living facilities, MDH reported. The state health department also notes that 11 COVID-19 deaths are listed as "probable," stating COVID-19 is listed on the death certificate but a positive test is not documented for the person.

The department stated, as of Saturday, the state has completed a total of 333,484 tests.

According to MDH, 3,336 total cases have required hospitalization. Of that total, 473 remained in the hospital Saturday with 206 in intensive care.

MDH states 22,253 patients no longer need to be isolated. MDH is now reporting that the number of patients who no longer need isolation represents individuals with confirmed COVID-19 who no longer need to self-isolate. MDH is now reporting that the number of patients no longer needing isolation "does not include those who have died; the cumulative number was adjusted to reflect that change."

According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering, the virus has infected more than 6.7 million people worldwide and killed 396,131.

More than 2.7 million people worldwide have recovered as of Saturday.

Some other notes on the latest report from MDH include the following:

  • Due to civil unrest in St. Paul and surrounding areas, the MDH Public Health Lab was closed from May 30 to June 1. COVID-19 specimens were not accepted and no tests were run during this time. When possible, samples were re-routed to partner laboratories.
  • Results from April 24 and June 3 included a backlog of tests loaded into MDH’s system. Previously, they were not updating tests reported for past dates; going forward, they will be updating that historical data.
  • Results from May 4 and 5 were impacted by a technical glitch and 2,000 tests were reported on May 5 rather than May 4. With the update on Friday, these tests are counted on the correct date rather than a day later.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, patients with confirmed COVID-19 have mild to severe respiratory problems, with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some patients report having muscle aches, headache, sore throat, and/or chills and shaking.

Note: According to MDH – "Because all data are preliminary, the change in number of cumulative positive cases and deaths from one day to the next may not equal the newly reported cases or deaths."