MDH COVID-19 briefing: Cases related to President Trump rallies, re-emerging long-term care issues due to community spread

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) officials addressed an array of topics during Friday’s COVID-19 briefing, including an update on re-emerging challenges in long-term care facilities and President Donald Trump rally case numbers.

Updated numbers:

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm gave an update on COVID-19 numbers around the world as well as in Minnesota.

Worldwide, cases passed 36.6 million with deaths just over 1 million. In the United States, cases have surpassed 7.6 million and deaths are over 213,000 as of Friday.

A new record for confirmed cases in a single day was announced by the World Health Organization Friday, with over 350,000 new cases being reported globally.

In Minnesota, there were 1,401 newly reported cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 109,312 since the pandemic began. Fourteen additional deaths were also reported, which brings the total in Minnesota to 2,121 deaths from COVID-19. This is the highest rate of cases reported in a single day since pandemic data has been tracked.

The median age has moved up to 36 years old. The median age had been stable at 35 years old for a number of weeks, according to Malcolm.

Of the recent deaths, 13 occurred in long-term care facilities.

MDH reports 14 new deaths, record-high 1,401 positive COVID-19 cases in state

Re-emerging issues in long-term care facilities:

Long-term care facilities are seeing more concerns about increasing cases.

While most facilities do not have current outbreaks, according to Malcolm, more and more staff are becoming infected from community spread and potentially bringing the virus back into facilities.

Along with potentially bringing the virus back to facilities, Malcolm said staffing becomes an issue when facility workers contract the virus.

Of the total number of cases on Friday, 77 of them occurred in long-term care facilities.

Full KSTP COVID-19 coverage

President Trump Bemidji rally cases:

MDH Director of Infectious Diseases Kris Ehresmann announced that nine cases have been reported relating to President Donald Trump’s rally in Bemidji that occurred on Sept. 18.

At least one of the attendees was infectious when they attended the rally. Two of the people are hospitalized and one is in intensive care.

As for the Duluth rally, Ehresmann said MDH is still tracking that data.

Below are other highlights from Friday’s call:

• Intensive care beds are tight throughout the state, however, that is not atypical for summer, according to Malcolm. At this point, the degree of hospital occupancy is in the expected range.
• Malcolm noted that while Minnesota has not yet followed behind the increasing numbers of neighboring states, it can happen very quickly. Minnesotans need to stay vigilant and keep practicing mitigation techniques, according to Malcolm.

You can listen to Friday’s full call below.