Minnesota sees post-holiday COVID-19 surge, hopes for peak

Breakthrough infections help fuel continuation of COVID-19 wave in Minnesota, where more vaccinations and boosters are urged

Dec 14, 20210

Aaron Lavinsky, Star Tribune count

Respiratory therapist Spirya Andrews, back center, works with critical care nurses and assistants to rotate a critically-ill COVID patient at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale.

The pandemic has worsened after brief improvements over the Thanksgiving holiday, reaching levels not seen in Minnesota since last December, before COVID-19 vaccine was available.

Minnesota on Monday reported an 11.5% positivity rate of COVID-19 diagnostic tests - an indicator of widespread viral transmission - and a 2021 record infection rate in the week ending Dec. 3. The 1,677 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota on Friday included 342 people needing intensive care.

Minnesota might be following the trend of mountain states such as Colorado and Montana, which saw declines in their coronavirus infections after peaking last month. But hospital leaders are bracing for sustained pressure. Only 13 of 1,012 staffed adult ICU beds were open in Minnesota as of Friday.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-sees-post-holiday-covid-19-surge-hopes-for-peak/600126661/