The rate of diagnostic tests finding infections with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has increased in Minnesota above 5%, a key threshold to public health authorities.
Testing identified another 606 infections that were reported on Tuesday by the Minnesota Department of Health along with four deaths.
The state also reported that 328 people were hospitalized for COVID-19, and that 159 needed intensive care due to breathing problems or other complications.
Mississippi has a testing positivity rate amid rising COVID-19 case counts in the South of 23.3%, while Vermont has a rate of .4%, according to Johns Hopkins.
Malcolm said the positivity rate is an indicator of concern about the direction of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she urged people to continue following state guidance over wearing masks, practicing social distancing, covering coughs and staying home when sick.
The state has reported a total of 57,162 infections with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, including 50,426 who have recovered to the point they are no longer considered infectious or required to isolate themselves.