Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Department of Health

• Commissioner Malcolm announced the state now has had 34,616 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19.
• This is up 498 over yesterday’s report.
• This figure represents the highest number of new cases since June 5.
• Yesterday, 14,582 COVID-19 tests were processed.
• The current median age for a COVID-19 case is 39.6 years old.
• Minnesota now has 1,411 deaths due to COVID-19. This is an increase of five from yesterday’s report.
• Currently, 335 patients are hospitalized for COVID-19 with 157 of those in the ICU.
• Hospitalizations are down one since yesterday’s report.
• ICU bed use is down five since yesterday’s report.
• When asked about whether the state is considering mandating masks for indoor spaces following the call by the Minnesota Medical Association for the state to do so, Commissioner Malcolm responded, “We’re talking about that and looking at that quite closely.” She noted that as more data has become available and more re-openings and social interactions occur, the state is “looking at mitigating the risk of those interactions.”

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

• Director Ehresmann noted that a cluster of cases (over 100) from Blue Earth County associated with bar activity on June 12 and June 13 came from two establishments – Rounders Sports Bar & Grill and The 507.
• She also stated that two bars in Minneapolis have had a cluster of cases – Cowboy Jack’s and Kollege Klub between June 14 and June 21.
• Director Ehresmann noted that the median age for COVID-19 cases has dropped from 42 a month ago to 39.8 today. This means an increasing number of younger Minnesotans are testing positive for COVID-19. She reiterated the importance of social distancing and wearing masks as more social opportunities become available.
• When asked about whether the state’s goal is to stop the spread of COVID-19, Director Ehresmann responded, “We absolutely know we will continue to see cases. That is just how things will be. It’s managing the rate of growth. When you have 56 cases associated with one location with one weekend, that’s is not managing the rate of growth.”

Amos A. Briggs | Government Relations
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