3,439 more COVID-19 cases, 85 new deaths in Minnesota

Residents of aggregate-care settings accounted for 49 of the newly announced deaths.

December 13, 2020 at 5:35PM
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People took to the new saliva COVID-19 testing site at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Thursday, November 12, 2020. The airport partnered with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Vault Medical Services and the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) to open its ninth COVID-19 PCR saliva testing location. It is free to Minnesota residents and out-of-state residents. (ELIZABETH FLORES • liz.flores@startribune.com/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minnesota is reporting 85 new deaths and 3,439 new coronavirus cases, the state Health Department said Sunday morning.

The state's one-day count of new cases came on a very high volume of about 48,000 newly completed tests.

Since the pandemic arrived in Minnesota in March, the state's tallies include 378,823 total positive cases, 19,536 hospitalizations and 4,444 deaths.

Residents of long-term care and assisted-living facilities accounted for 49 of the newly announced deaths, and 2,906 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Numbers released Sunday show health care workers have accounted for 28,337 positive cases. More than 341,530 people who were infected no longer need to be isolated.

COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus that surfaced late last year. People at greatest risk include those 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities and those with underlying medical conditions.

Those health problems range from lung disease and serious heart conditions to severe obesity and diabetes. People undergoing treatment for failing kidneys also run a greater risk, as do those with cancer and other conditions where treatments suppress immune systems.

Most patients with COVID-19 don't need to be hospitalized. Most illnesses involve mild or moderate symptoms; many cases are asymptomatic.

Kim Hyatt • 612-673-4751

about the writer

about the writer

Kim Hyatt

Reporter

Kim Hyatt reports on North Central Minnesota. She previously covered Hennepin County courts.

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