Minnesota Reports 1,632 New COVID-19 Cases; Statewide Case Growth Among The Nation’s Highest

From the Minnesota Reformer:

By Rilyn Eischens

October 19, 2020

Minnesota reported 1,632 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, following three days of record-high daily case increases.

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.

Case growth also continues to exceed the number of new tests completed daily, MPR reported. The rate of positive tests is above 5%, a benchmark that experts consider worrying.

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.

Minnesota also reported five COVID-19 deaths Monday, bringing the death toll to 2,239. More than 124,439 Minnesotans have tested positive for COVID-19 since March.

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..