Commissioner Jan Malcom, Department of Health

• Commissioner Malcolm reported 1,292 new cases of COVID-19. This brings the state’s total number of COVID-19 cases to 450,762.
• Yesterday, 41,333 COVID-19 lab tests were processed.
• The commissioner noted that the evidence suggests that the state may already have seen a spike from Christmas and New Year gatherings, but that spike was modest and manageable.
• An additional 32 Minnesotans have died due to COVID-19. This brings the state across the 6,000 mark to a total number of COVID-19 deaths of 6,011.
• The seven-day COVID-19 test positivity average is 5.1%.
• Currently, 558 patients are hospitalized due to COVID-19 with 98 of those in the ICU.
• As of Sunday, the state is reporting that that nearly 246,000 vaccine doses have been administered to Minnesotans out of close to 300,000 doses available for providers.
• o   Thus far, almost 627,000 doses have been allocated to Minnesota.
• o   Almost 610,000 have been shipped to Minnesota. This includes doses shipped for federal pharmacy partnership program for long-term care – about 125,000 doses have been set aside for that and 170,000 doses have been earmarked for providers to give second-dose shots.
• The state is building up its infrastructure to be ready to administer more vaccines when larger amounts are allocated by the federal government to Minnesota.

Director Kris Ehresmann, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Division

• Director Ehresmann outlined the state’s new electronic case investigation survey. The Minnesota Department of Health will send text messages to those who test positive for COVID-19 inviting them to participate and complete an online survey instead of waiting for a call from a public health worker.
• The state will never ask an individual for banking information, financial information, or a Social Security number
• More information on this new tool can be https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2021/covid012121.html&source=gmail&ust=1611398988490000&usg=AFQjCNFJXP72uqFkFFpRljPj4J8FBn7OGw">found here.

Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff, Health Protection Bureau

• With the loosening of state restrictions on certain social activities and returning to in-class learning in some areas, the Minnesota Department of Health is recommending proactive testing for students returning to schools, youth sports, or extracurricular activities.
• Tests remain accessible to all Minnesota residents with 20 community testing sites in addition to at-home test kits or through a healthcare provider.
• The new recommendations can be https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.health.state.mn.us/news/pressrel/2021/covidtesting012121.html&source=gmail&ust=1611398988490000&usg=AFQjCNGw-h5tq6PeikMd3Wa2CmBoprbBmA"> found here.

Legislative Break Announced

Today, legislative leaders announced the Passover/Easter legislative break, which will begin at the end of the day on Friday, March 26 and go through Monday, April 5. Legislative activity may resume at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 6.

 Amos A. Briggs | Government Relations
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