According to the Minnesota Department of Health 19 more Minnesota residents have died of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, bringing the states total to 179.
The Health Department also reported 154 new cases, increasing the total to 2,721.
As of Wednesday, 240 patients were hospitalized, with 107 of the in intensive care.
No new cases were reported in Faribault or Martin Counties.
Faribault and Martin Counties Community Health Services reports :
We recognize there have been a lot of questions about testing activity locally. The following joint statement was issued today by Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont, United Hospital District, Dulcimer Medical Center and Community Health & Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties.
Area health care leaders encourage caution in next phase of COVID-19 pandemic response
Over the coming days and weeks, the evidence that social isolation is working to curb the spread of COVID-19 will start to become clear. The graphs of the flattening curve, the phased reopening of the economy, and the slowing of new reported cases in our area and elsewhere will surely bring about relief to those who have shouldered the burden of so many facets of this pandemic.
COVID-19 testing in the area is conducted by Mayo Clinic Health System in Fairmont, Dulcimer Medical Center in Fairmont and United Hospital District in Blue Earth.
We are collectively seeing a downtrend in the number of tests completed, as well as the number of positive results. The marked decrease in the number of tests administered and the number of positive results prove people are following social isolation guidelines, and we thank you for that. We know it’s not easy to stay away from loved ones and friends. Your actions are helping, and we can feel encouraged by what we are seeing. However, we also must plead with you to exercise caution moving forward.COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, which means it’s new in the world and people don’t have natural immunity to it. It spreads quickly, and it only takes one infected person to begin another outbreak.
The Iowa Department of Health reported 7 new deaths from the Coronavirus, bringing the state’s total to 90. The deaths were reported in Blackhawk, Tama, Woodbury, Linn and Muscatine Counties.
Also, 109 new cases were reported on Wednesday, giving the state 3,748 cases.
No new cases have been reported in Kossuth or Winnebago Counties and a total of 28,244 people have been tested and 1,428 patients have recovered and no longer require isolation.