Minnesota reports 599 new COVID-19 cases, 9 more deaths

Minnesota is reporting 599 new coronavirus cases and nine more deaths linked to COVID-19, the state Department of Health announced Saturday.

With the latest numbers, the seven-day rolling average for new cases is down to about 672 per day, according to the Star Tribune's coronavirus tracker.

The reading continues a trend of declining seven-day averages for new cases that's spanned more than a month. In late winter and early spring, Minnesota saw rising COVID-19 cases along with the spread of a more contagious form of the virus.

The statewide tally of people who have received at least one vaccine dose increased by 28,892 in the latest data release, for a total of 2,831,792 people so far. That's about 63% of residents age 16 and older, according to a state dashboard reading on Saturday.

The state says 2,469,509 people have now completed a one-dose or two-dose vaccine series.

Residents of long-term care or assisted-living facilities accounted for five of the newly announced deaths.

Since Minnesota started detecting virus infections in March 2020, the state has reported 598,327 positive cases, 31,750 hospitalizations and 7,363 deaths.

Hospital figures continue to show fewer Minnesotans requiring inpatient treatment for COVID-19.

The Star Tribune's tracker shows 51 new hospital admissions reported on Saturday, down from 71 reported one week ago. Daily announcements of new admissions typically include patients who have entered the hospital at some point over the last several days, not just the most recent day.

Numbers released Saturday show health care workers have accounted for 42,460 positive cases. More than 584,000 people who were infected no longer need to be isolated.

The latest Health Department figures show more than 5 million vaccine doses administered overall.

COVID-19 is a respiratory ailment that poses the greatest risk of serious illness in those 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities, and people with underlying medical conditions. The disease is caused by a coronavirus that surfaced in late 2019. Health problems that boost COVID-19 risk range from lung disease and serious heart conditions to obesity and diabetes.

Data on COVID-19 cases and deaths released Saturday morning were current as of 4 p.m. Friday. Vaccination numbers were current as of Thursday.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.