ICU hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Minnesota hit highest level in month

(FOX 9) - The number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU in Minnesota are at their highest level in a month, according to the latest data from the state health department. 

The Minnesota Department of Health reported Wednesday there are currently 303 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 148 of whom are in the ICU. The last time the number of ICU hospitalizations in Minnesota were that high was Aug. 22. 

Non-ICU hospitalizations are also up by 48 since Saturday. 

State health officials reported 690 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 10,319 completed tests Wednesday, a positivity rate of 6.7%. 

The state’s positivity rate to date is 4.9%, but the key 7-day rolling average is 4.6%, MDH officials said Wednesday. Anything over 5% is a concern for MDH as it suggests a higher rate of community transmission. 

Minnesota has now seen more than 92,000 cases of COVID-19 to date and more than 1.3 million people have been tested. 

Six more people have died from COVID-19, according to MDH. Of the six deaths, three were residents of Hennepin County, including one person who was over 100 years old. Three of the deaths were in long-term or assisted living facilities. 

A total of 1,985 people in Minnesota have now died from COVID-19.