MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota has passed a pair of significant statistics since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Health officials on Thursday reported that more than 500,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed and more than 2 million doses of vaccine have been administered throughout the state.
The daily update showed 1,505 new cases in the last day, bumping the total number of positive tests to 501,458, and six new deaths, increasing the number of fatalities to 6,762.
Hospitalizations have seen an uptick in recent days, with 297 people currently checked in to medical facilities. Of those patients, 74 are being treated in intensive care units, twice the number reported on March 6.
State figures show than more than 764,000 people have completed their vaccinations, or nearly 14 percent of residents. More than 1.3 million people have received at least one dose, or more than 23 percent of the state’s population.
Gov. Tim Walz, who is under quarantine until March 25 due to a viral exposure, said in a statement that the vaccine milestone is a good sign for things to come.
“Hope is on the horizon,” Walz said. “We look forward to celebrating these remarkable milestones at an increasing pace this spring as vaccine supply continues to grow.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.