WILLMAR — While new COVID-19 cases in the local region numbered in the single digits over the weekend, Meeker County marked an unfortunate milestone. The first death related to COVID-19 in Meeker County was confirmed by the Minnesota Department of Health on Saturday.
The individual was between the ages of 90 and 99 years old. No other information was available.
There were seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Kandiyohi County over the weekend, bringing the total confirmed cases among residents of the county to 521.
Renville and Big Stone counties each had one new case confirmed over the weekend.
The information was included in the MDH daily situation update s released Saturday and Sunday. The reports are issued at 11 a.m. and have data current as of 4 p.m. the prior day.
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Statewide there were 914 new cases over the two days, bringing the state total of positive cases to 27,886.
There were 38 additional deaths attributed to COVID-19, for a current statewide total of 1,186.
Most of the deaths, 949, have occurred in long-term care or assisted living facilities and 973 of the deaths were 70 years or older.
Statewide, there were 450 COVID patients in hospitals on Sunday, 199 of them being treated in ICUs. That is the lowest number of ICU patients since May 13, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
Out of the state's reported positive cases, 22,992 no longer need to self-isolate, leaving 4,894 active cases.
Minnesota has completed 344,203 tests since Jan. 20. Testing has increased significantly during the first week of June. On Friday 11,144 were done and Saturday saw another 10,719 completed tests.
The current number of confirmed COVID-19 cases for area counties includes:
Big Stone County: 12
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Chippewa County: 52
Kandiyohi County: 521
Lac qui Parle County: 3
Meeker County: 46
Pope County: 10
Redwood County: 7
Renville County: 8
Stearns County: 2,070
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Swift County: 19
Yellow Medicine County: 7
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