Thread by @dhmontgomery

Another day, another smashed #COVID19 record in Minnesota. Today, 8,703 newly reported cases, 20% higher than the old record set two days ago.

The 7-day average is nearly 5,900 new cases per day.

Here’s cases by sample date, a week delayed. You can see tests done last Saturday had nearly 4,000 positives. A week or so before THAT, that would have been a record high for a weekday, let alone weekends that usually have lower volumes.

Now, today’s record 8,703 confirmed #COVID19 cases did come on a record 51,956 tests. But tests are growing at 1.2% per day, while cases are expanding by 3.1% per day. Minnesota’s 7-day average positivity rate is 15%.

Minnesota is averaging more than 200 new #COVID19 hospital admissions per day. Bed use is at record levels for both ICU and non-ICU beds.

Today’s 35 new #COVID19 deaths is right in line with the 7-day average, which is terrible, but at least for once lately this didn’t go up…

Deaths in long-term-care facilities are at record levels, but unlike in Minnesota’s May death wave, the #COVID19 deaths are also elevated outside of LTC facilities.

Cases at record levels in all regions of the state, especially central Minnesota. Still watching southeastern MN closely to see if it’s actually plateauing, or if this is just a blip.

And it’s not just cases that are up around the state. So are death rates. Northern and central Minnesota are seeing #COVID19 death rates as high or higher as Hennepin/Ramsey did in May:

New cases are climbing rapidly in every age group, led by 20-somethings but also including older Minnesotans, who are most at risk of dying from #COVID19.

If you find my daily updates on #COVID19 stats in Minnesota helpful, I’ve got something new for you: a daily newsletter! Every weekday after the 11 a.m. data release, I’ll break down the numbers in your inbox just like I do on Twitter.

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#COVID19 is growing exponentially in Minnesota. It took 230 days to confirm 216,000 cases. We’re on pace for another 216K in just 23 days.

It took 230 days for 2,874 COVID deaths. We’re on pace for another 2,864 by Jan. 6.