COVID-19 hospitalizations above 300 in Minnesota, but severity lower

Share of admitted patients requiring intensive care is at the lowest in the pandemic in Minnesota

May 04, 20220

Aaron Lavinsky, Star Tribune count

COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing in Minnesota, but only 7% of the infected patients on Monday needed intensive care - the lowest rate in the pandemic.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota rose back above 300 for the first time since March 10, but the virus isn't producing the same severity of illness as prior pandemic waves.

Among 305 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Monday, 22 required intensive care - a 7% rate that is the lowest in the two-plus years of the pandemic.

"[The coronavirus is] more contagious than recent months, but severity of illness remains low," said Dr. Mark Sannes, an infectious disease expert with HealthPartners, which over the past week has reported zero ICU admissions because of COVID-19 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul or any of its other seven hospitals in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

https://www.startribune.com/covid-19-hospitalizations-above-300-in-minnesota-but-severity-lower/600170142/