ST. PAUL — Minnesota reported 35 more COVID-19 deaths Friday, Nov. 5, and 3,378 new infections were recorded by the state Department of Health.
The latest fatalities to be reported ranged in age from their 50s to more than 100. Thirteen lived in long-term care and 22 resided in private homes.
The death toll is now 8,828 including 4,795 fatalities in long-term care. About 86% of those who died are seniors.
There are 124 more fatalities suspected to have been caused by COVID-19, but the person never had a positive coronavirus test.
The rate of daily death reports is averaging more than 20 per day, the highest it has been since January when Minnesota’s biggest surge in cases was subsiding.
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Test-positivity rates and hospitalizations ticked down slightly Friday, but both rates remain well above the caution thresholds health officials use to determine if the pandemic is under control.
There are 982 patients hospitalized including 235 in intensive care. Hospital capacity remains a challenge in much of the state.
Health officials say vaccines are the best way to avoid a severe infection and to slow the spread of the coronavirus. However, breakthrough cases have become more common and represent about 15% of infections diagnosed in 2021.
Minnesota has administered 7 million doses of vaccine including more than 504,000 boosters. Providers began vaccinating 5- to 11-year-olds this week after the Pfizer vaccine was OK’d for that age group.
About 67% of the state’s total eligible population, age 5 and older, have gotten at least one dose of vaccine.
