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COVID-19 Strikes Again: Minnesota ICU Beds Reaching Capacity
Coronavirus numbers are climbing again. Simultaneously, the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units across Minnesota has hit a high of 200 for the first time this year, striking concerns of shrinking capacities at hospitals statewide, according to AP News.
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Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm claims 718 patients are currently hospitalized due to the virus (the highest number since spring), and 208 are in intensive care.
What's concerning is Minnesota hospitals are "very full" of patients with other conditions.
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“It is getting harder for some hospitals to find open, staffed beds at the right level of care for critically ill patients, whether due to heart attack, stroke or COVID-19,” Malcolm said. “This is an issue statewide impacting both small rural facilities and larger metro systems.”
As of Monday, 3.3 million Minnesotans 12 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
The highly contagious delta variant has caused statewide test positivity to reach 7% for the first time since April.
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