The rate of new cases of COVID-19 in the north-central Minnesota region remained relatively steady this week, still elevated compared to February and March but no longer accelerating at the same clip.
The same number of hospitalizations of Crow Wing County residents was reported this week as last — 14 total, with nine of those occurring between April 24-26. And in the region as a whole, the deaths of four residents were among those reported by the Minnesota Department of Health, including a Crow Wing County resident age 50-54. Also succumbing were a Todd County resident, age 60-64, a Morrison County resident, age 70-74, and a Cass County resident, age 85-89.
The total number of cases added in the last 14 days in Crow Wing County continued to fall this week before ticking back up again Friday, April 30. That figure sits at 294 cases after reaching a spring peak of just over 500 two weeks earlier.
ADVERTISEMENT
On a per capita basis, Crow Wing added 45.2 cases per 10,000 residents in the last two weeks — one of the higher rates in the area when adjusted for population. Mille Lacs County recorded 49.1 cases per 10,000, while Wadena County saw 44.6 cases per 10,000 in the previous 14 days.
With two days of data remaining for the month of April, vaccination figures are down in all seven area counties compared to March, while the state as a whole has seen a slight increase in doses administered during the same time frame. After sporting one of the higher rates in the region in March, Wadena County saw the steepest decline in its vaccination figures compared to a month earlier when adjusted for population. Mille Lacs County showed the smallest decline, still administering more than 200 doses per 10,000 residents in the month of April.
That rate helped Mille Lacs County surpass Crow Wing County by total eligible population vaccinated as of Wednesday. Of those age 16 and older, 52% are at least partially vaccinated in Mille Lacs, while Crow Wing sat at 51%. Aitkin continues to lead the region at 53%. Todd County continues to struggle at 37%, among just seven counties in the state yet to surpass the 40% mark.
COVID-19 data as of April 30
Aitkin — 1,319 (+23 since April 23), with 36 deaths; 7,180 residents have received at least one vaccine dose, representing 53% of the county’s 16-plus population.
Cass — 2,618 (+66) with 27 deaths; 10,656 residents with at least one dose, 45%.
Crow Wing — 6,444 (+158), with 87 deaths; 26,328 residents with at least one dose, 51%.
Mille Lacs — 2,941 (+53), with 52 deaths; 10,532 residents with at least one dose, 52%.
Morrison — 4,076 (+81), with 60 deaths; 11,072 residents with at least one dose, 42%.
Todd — 2,713 (+31), with 31 deaths; 7,120 residents with at least one dose, 37%.
Wadena — 1,466 (+35), with 21 deaths; 4,741 residents with at least one dose, 45%.
NOTE: These numbers are cumulative since March 21, 2020, and many are out of isolation.
