Twenty-four more people have died from COVID-19 in Minnesota, state health officials reported Saturday, including a Hennepin County resident in their 40s who died with no underlying health conditions and was not a resident of long-term care.
Congregate care residents and those with troubled health histories have accounted for most of COVID-19 deaths in Minnesota thus far. The statewide toll is now 395 deaths, according to data posted Saturday morning by the Minnesota Department of Health.
"We express our condolences to the families and friends of those who died," Jan Malcolm, the state Health Commissioner, said in a statement. "We continue our work along with many partners around the state to protect Minnesotans and prevent additional deaths."
All but three of the new deaths reported were residents of long-term care facilities, the Health Department said. Long-term care residents account for about 80% of deaths in the state.
The number of known COVID-19 cases increased from 5,730 to 6,228.
A total of 389 people currently require hospitalization, compared with 369 on Friday, the Health Department said. There are 135 patients in the ICU, compared with 118 intensive care patients Friday.
COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus that surfaced in China late last year. Since the first case was reported in Minnesota on March 6, a total of 1,159 people have been hospitalized, up from 1,096 on Friday.
Most patients with COVID-19 don't need to be hospitalized. The illness usually causes mild or moderate sickness, the Health Department says, and does not require a clinic visit.
