U.K. variant drives Minn. cases to 12th in U.S.

[question everything]

A viral variant has become a dominant source of COVID-19 in Minnesota, causing as many as 65% of new infections and driving the state's case and hospitalization rates to some of the highest in the U.S.

A sampling of patients infected with the corona­virus that causes COVID-19 has identified 943 with the B.1.1.7 variant, which proved when it was found in England to be 50% more contagious and cause a 64% higher death rate.

(snip)

Minnesota has become an epicenter of pandemic activity this month — ranking 12th highest among U.S. states for its new infection rate in the latest White House COVID-19 report and 15th for its hospitalization rate. Michigan and northeastern states also are seeing increases. Minnesota, on the other hand, ranked 36th for its lower rate of COVID-19 deaths in the seven-day period ending March 26. Health officials hope that's a reflection of an aggressive vaccination campaign that has protected people most at risk.

(snip)

Minnesota on Thursday reported 2,140 more SARS-CoV-2 infections — the first daily count above 2,000 since Jan. 10. That raised the state's total to 521,667 known infections. The state also reported 12 more COVID-19 deaths. The number of Minnesota hospital beds filled with COVID-19 patients increased on Wednesday to 435 — including 105 patients in intensive care. Hospitals are reporting younger patients compared with late last year, though, and a decline in deaths.

More..

https://www.startribune.com/u-k-variant-drives-minn-cases-to-12th-in-u-s/600041261/

[progree]

1. We're at number 9 now, after a 2.3 fold increase in new cases in less than a month

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
Top 15 states in daily new cases per 100,000 population, 7 day moving average
#1 Michigan: 59
#2 New Jersey: 51
#3 New York: 42
#4 Connecticut: 35
#5 Rhode Island: 33
#6 Delaware: 33
#7 Massachusetts: 33
#8 Pennsylvania: 31
#9 Minnesota: 31
#10 Vermont: 29
#11 New Hampshire: 28
#12 Florida: 25
#13 Colorado: 25
#14 Alaska: 24
#15 Nebraska: 24


https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/minnesota-covid-cases.html
Minnesota daily new cases, 7 day moving average
742 March 5 (lowest point since fall)
1729 April 2 (latest, and well above anything that was seen before October)
2.3 fold increase

EDIT: Update
2,075 cases reported 4/3 (so that will drive the 7-day higher)

MDH won't be reporting any on Easter Sunday (they usually report every day of the week)
Their Monday 4/5 report will be what would normally be released on Sunday
Their Tuesday 4/6 report will be a combination of 2 reports: the Monday and Tuesday reports

[iemanja]

2. Wow.

This is startling.

[progree]

3. Since its been nearly 2 weeks.. we're #5 now

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html
Top 15 states in daily new cases per 100,000 population, 7 day moving average
#1 Michigan: 79 (was 59 on April 2)
#2 Rhode Island: 44
#3 New Jersey: 41
#4 Pennsylvania: 37
#5 Minnesota: 37 (was 31 on April 2)
#6 Delaware: 36
#7 New York: 35
#8 Connecticut: 34
#9 New Hamphshire: 32
#10 Colorado: 31
#11 Florida: 30
#11 Massachusetts: 30
#12 Maine: 29
#13 Illinois: 26
#14 Vermont: 24
#15 Alaska: 24

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/minnesota-covid-cases.html
Minnesota daily new cases, 7 day moving average
742 March 5 (lowest point since fall)
2106 April 13 (latest, and well above anything that was seen before October)
2.8 fold increase

One tiny hope of good news is a small drop in the 7 day average over the past 2 readings. Was 2342 on April 12, Latest is 2106 on April 13. (The 236 drop looks real small on the graph with a peak of 7052 on November 20 (but still going from 2342 to 2106 is a 10% drop)

[iemanja]

4. Yet our vaccination levels are increasing

This makes me wonder: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/13/986411423/a-mystery-under-study-how-why-and-when-covid-vaccines-arent-fully-protective

[dflprincess]

5. My niece mentioned the other day that they're seeing an uptick in cases at the hospital she works at

and it's people in their 20s and 30s. Most are people with other conditions but that is not the case for all. Of course, that is an age group that hasn't been vaccinated yet.