Minnesota Reports 1,120 New COVID-19 Cases And 7 Deaths

From the Minnesota Reformer:

By Rilyn Eischens

October 20, 2020

Minnesota reported 1,120 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, marking nearly two consecutive weeks of daily case counts above 1,000.

The state also recorded seven deaths, bringing the death toll to 2,246, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Officials in recent weeks have implored Minnesotans to stay vigilant against COVID-19 as case counts spike and hospitalizations increase.

More than 125,500 Minnesotans have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, and 9,042 have been hospitalized.

Minnesota’s case growth rate as of Friday indicates “unchecked community spread” and high COVID-19 risk levels, according to the Brown School of Public Health. For the past week, the state has reported roughly 30 new cases per 100,000 residents each day — the 11th-highest rate in the nation.

And Minnesota is surrounded by states with even higher growth rates. North and South Dakota have the highest number of new daily cases per 100,000 residents, at 86.9 in North Dakota and 75.3 in South Dakota. Wisconsin has the fourth-highest rate, at 48.2, and Iowa has the eighth-highest, at 35.4.

The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets can’t or won’t tell..