Minnesota reports nearly 80 more COVID-19 deaths

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - COVID-19 has played a role in nearly 80 more deaths across Minnesota, state health officials said Thursday.

The disease was a confirmed factor in 79 new deaths, bringing the overall death toll in the state to 4,904.

Health officials reported 1,583 newly confirmed cases on Thursday. The state has now seen 391,441 cases and 21,105 hospitalizations since the pandemic began in March.

The vast majority of infected people - 145,782 - have said they don’t know how they were exposed to the disease.