61 COVID-19 deaths reported in Minnesota as health officials eye holiday impact - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Sixty-one more COVID-19 deaths and 5,371 new lab-confirmed infections were reported in Minnesota on Friday, which health officials believe is the starting point for any observable impact of Thanksgiving gatherings on viral spread in the state.

The update from the Minnesota Department of Health brings the state’s totals in the pandemic to 3,845 deaths and 338,973 infections with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The number of Minnesota intensive care beds filled with COVID-19 patients has dropped from 394 on Nov.

While it did not restrict shopping — because there is limited evidence that the virus has spread widely in stores — Morris said a crush of Black Friday shoppers could have presented an entirely different level of risk.

Deaths from COVID-19 remain more common among people 70 and older and residents of long-term care facilities — who suffered 36 of the fatalities reported on Friday.

State health officials have worried about a “twindemic” of COVID-19 combined with seasonal influenza.

The latest data released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health, though, shows a slow start to the flu season that could be inhibited by the same mask-wearing and social distancing that is recommended to slow the spread of COVID-19.