ThomasP
Senior Master Sergeant
Minnesota Report for the Week of ??-22 November 2021
Well the s**t has hit the fan, again.
The average new case rate for last week was ~3300/day. This is up from ~2000/day as of 3 weeks ago, and is the highest recorded in Minnesota since November-December of 2020.
Out of the 23,100 new cases, 448 were re-infection cases (ie someone who had tested positive of COVID-19 more than 90 days ago once again tested positive).
We had 924 new hospitalizations last week with 125 newly admitted to ICUs. As of 22 November the current COVID-19 total in hospital was 1109 and the current total in ICU was 324. (The number had increased to 1462 in hospital and 330 in ICU as of 26 November.)
There were 148 deaths last week, but that number is deceptively low as the majority of deaths tend to lag behind hospitalization rates by 2-6 weeks. Fortunately the overall fatality rate of ~1.6% does not appear to be increasing.
~84% of new cases are occurring among the unvaccinated. An unvaccinated person who catches COVID-19 is ~14x more likely to die than if they are vaccinated.
We are beginning to encounter shortages of ICU staff. There have been a significant number of health care workers who have taken leave of absence, quit, or simply refuse to work in the COVID ward anymore. Simple fatigue due to overwork is also coming into play. Due to this shortage, and due to the change in the demographics of those falling ill, Minnesota's Governor has asked for aid from the Federal government. In response, 3x US Air Force medical teams specializing in respiratory trauma have been deployed to Minnesota - 1 team to one of the 3 largest metro area hospitals (HCMC in Minneapolis) and 2 teams to the 2nd largest out-state hospital (St Cloud). Each team is composed of 23 personnel (4 doctors, 14 nurses, 2 respiratory specialists/therapists, and 3 administrators).
Well the s**t has hit the fan, again.
The average new case rate for last week was ~3300/day. This is up from ~2000/day as of 3 weeks ago, and is the highest recorded in Minnesota since November-December of 2020.
Out of the 23,100 new cases, 448 were re-infection cases (ie someone who had tested positive of COVID-19 more than 90 days ago once again tested positive).
We had 924 new hospitalizations last week with 125 newly admitted to ICUs. As of 22 November the current COVID-19 total in hospital was 1109 and the current total in ICU was 324. (The number had increased to 1462 in hospital and 330 in ICU as of 26 November.)
There were 148 deaths last week, but that number is deceptively low as the majority of deaths tend to lag behind hospitalization rates by 2-6 weeks. Fortunately the overall fatality rate of ~1.6% does not appear to be increasing.
~84% of new cases are occurring among the unvaccinated. An unvaccinated person who catches COVID-19 is ~14x more likely to die than if they are vaccinated.
We are beginning to encounter shortages of ICU staff. There have been a significant number of health care workers who have taken leave of absence, quit, or simply refuse to work in the COVID ward anymore. Simple fatigue due to overwork is also coming into play. Due to this shortage, and due to the change in the demographics of those falling ill, Minnesota's Governor has asked for aid from the Federal government. In response, 3x US Air Force medical teams specializing in respiratory trauma have been deployed to Minnesota - 1 team to one of the 3 largest metro area hospitals (HCMC in Minneapolis) and 2 teams to the 2nd largest out-state hospital (St Cloud). Each team is composed of 23 personnel (4 doctors, 14 nurses, 2 respiratory specialists/therapists, and 3 administrators).