St. Paul plans to close 5 of its schools

Oct. 12, 2021

New data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows the positivity rate for COVID tests in the state is hitting the highest levels recorded since vaccines became available late last year.

The 7-day rolling average for the last week hit 7.7 percent, the highest point it has reached since the middle of December. It’s a sign that infections are picking up speed and approaching the state’s own threshold for high risk, at 10 percent.

The total number of cases for the day also fell just short of 8,000 in the latest data – the highest total since the state shifted to a three-day weekend summary in July.

Serious illnesses also continue to climb, with a total of 960 people reported now in the hospital, and more than one in four of them in intensive care.

This is part of a steady rise the state has seen in the last six weeks, after school resumed, and even as other parts of the country are reporting marked decreases in cases.