The coronavirus continues to have a significant impact on local health care systems as cases and hospitalizations remain elevated and steady.
The intensive care unit at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd continued to stretch beyond its typical borders Friday, Dec. 17, with nine of 11 patients suffering from COVID-19 and all unvaccinated. As of Thursday, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby cared for six COVID-19 patients, five of whom were unvaccinated.
The Minnesota Department of Health reported this week the hospitalization of 16 Crow Wing County residents due to COVID-19, and for the 13th straight week, the number of new cases reported in a week’s time in Crow Wing County exceeded 200. Before the week ending Sept. 17, this occurred a total of nine other weeks throughout the entirety of the pandemic.
The deaths of 14 people in the north-central Minnesota region were among those reported by the health department this week, with half of those under the age of 65, including a person age 30-34 in Todd County. Also among the dead this week: five Crow Wing County residents, ages 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 80-84 and 90-94; two Cass County residents, ages 60-64 and 65-69; two Morrison County residents, ages 55-59 and 60-64; two Mille Lacs County residents, ages 60-64 and 95-99; another Todd County resident, age 85-89; and a Wadena County resident, age 60-64.
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