COVID-19 cases in Minnesota preK-12 schools have dropped significantly since mid-September with the number of new infections falling nearly 70%.
Last week saw 920 new confirmed or probable coronavirus cases among students and employees in 514 preK-12 school buildings.
That's down from this school year's peak of 2,924 new cases in 1,028 buildings during the week of Sep. 19, according to data compiled by the Minnesota Department of Health.
However, one student and two staff members died of COVID-19 complications last week, bringing the pandemic fatality total to two students and 13 school employees.
It is the first death of a student and the fifth death of an employee this school year.
"Five school staff members and one student have died of COVID-19 this school year and it's only October," Education Minnesota President Denise Specht said. "There is no excuse for any district leader to ignore the guidelines for masking, social distancing, quarantining and vaccinations set out by state and federal public health authorities."
Additionally, state health officials reported that 27 more school students and staff were hospitalized, including five who required intensive care.
Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm welcomed the decrease in school-related COVID-19 cases.