School-linked COVID-19 outbreaks triple in Minnesota

Coronavirus infections linked to Pre-K-12 students and staff continued to increase following the fall restart of classes — with 820 infections reported in the week ending Sept. 11 and a preliminary 859 reported in the week ending Sept. 18.

Thursday's update from the Minnesota Department of Health also listed at least 95 pre-K-12 schools with COVID-19 outbreaks of five or more coronavirus infections in a two-week period.

The list of school outbreaks more than tripled from the 27 reported last week and includes Edison High School in Minneapolis, which shifted to remote learning because of a rise in infections this week. While expected with the return of in-person classes, the rise in outbreaks has put renewed pressure on school leaders as they consider mask requirements, quarantines or distance learning options to confront the pandemic.

The number of school-associated coronavirus infections the past two weeks almost doubles the totals reported in equivalent weeks last September.

While some schools on the state list experienced earlier outbreaks that have declined — and may no longer have ongoing coronavirus transmission — they are removed only if they have reported no new infections for 28 days. The outbreaks include students and staff who might have been exposed to the virus in other locations in their communities but were infectious while in their school buildings.

Odds of severe COVID-19 are much lower in children, but health officials remain concerned about the risks in students and their ability to carry and transmit the coronavirus to older people in their communities at greater risk. Minnesota remains in a fourth wave of a pandemic that has caused 8,049 COVID-19 deaths and 694,320 known infections, including 24 deaths and 2,434 infections reported Thursday.

The single-day death total is one of the highest in months, including 22 deaths that occurred in September or August but also COVID-19 fatalities in December and January that were belatedly verified as linked to the pandemic. All 24 involved seniors — who have sustained 87% of Minnesota's total COVID-19 deaths — except for one Nicollet County resident in the 45 to 49 age range.

The number of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Minnesota dipped slightly to 777 on Wednesday but remains above totals seen during the third pandemic wave this spring. Children's Minnesota earlier this week reported 10 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 between its Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses.

Health officials have encouraged continued COVID-19 vaccinations, especially in younger age groups with state data showing a first-dose rate of 53% in eligible people age 12 to 15, and 59% in eligible people age 16 to 17. Overall, more than 72% of Minnesota's eligible population has received at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Thursday's outbreak list included elementary schools in which students aren't eligible for vaccine and high schools as well. The list of high schools with outbreaks includes Blaine, Chanhassen, Brainerd, Farmington, Albert Lea, Champlin Park, Maple Grove, Robbinsdale Cooper, Rogers, Wayzata, Cambridge-Isanti, Austin, Nicollet, Roseville, White Bear Lake, Jordan, Shakopee, Owatonna, Stillwater and Monticello.

Coronavirus infection numbers have risen on college campuses and other institutions of higher learning, but not as rapidly. The state on Thursday reported 142 infections linked to students and staffs, spread among 46 institutions of higher learning, in the week ending Sept. 11.