Large group COVID-19 outbreaks remain a concern in Minnesota ahead of school reopenings that could accelerate the spread of the infectious disease, but state health officials warned that Thursday's one-day high of 1,158 confirmed cases was an anomaly due to delays by one lab.
A glut of 19,000 test results from samples collected in the past two weeks was turned over by Valley Medical after the state contacted the Burnsville-based medical provider about irregular reporting. Among those, 4,658 diagnostic tests and 265 positive infections with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 were included in Thursday's daily report and padded the totals.
While an official for Valley Medical said all patients with positive tests were informed directly within 24 hours, the Minnesota Department of Health said this delayed notification to the state hurts its ability to combat the broader pandemic.
"Delayed reporting ... means that 265 people who tested positive for COVID-19 were not contacted by health officials in a timely manner," the department said in a statement. "This creates multiple problems — not only does it mean the person tested is unaware of their infection and the need to self-isolate to protect family, friends and close contacts, but it also delays our case investigation work and makes it harder to slow the spread of this disease."
The confirmed infections bring the state's total count in the pandemic to 72,390. The state also confirmed 13 deaths — the second straight day of double-digit totals — bringing that total to 1,806.
Thursday's daily count was still nearly 900 even without the Valley Medical test results — a significant number amid a period of relative stability in the pandemic in Minnesota. The state has been averaging about 630 new infections confirmed per day over the past two weeks. Hospital numbers have leveled as well this month — with the state on Thursday reporting 305 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 139 people who needed intensive care due to breathing problems or other complications.
Forty-four lab-confirmed infections have now been traced to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, including one person needing hospital intensive care.
Health officials on Thursday also disclosed an outbreak of several cases tied to an Aug. 22 wedding in Ghent, Minn., that included a dance at KB's Bar and Grill.