West central Minnesota saw decrease to 429 new cases of COVID-19, four deaths last week

Linda Vanderwerf, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·2 min read

Jul. 15—WILLMAR

— Four deaths related to COVID-19 and 429 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in west central Minnesota from July 3 through July 9, according to the weekly situation update released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health.

The number of cases is 30 fewer than the new cases reported a week ago. Most of the new cases were reported in Stearns County, the largest of the 11 area counties tracked by the West Central Tribune. Kandiyohi County added 53 new cases, and Renville County had 41.

In June 2022, the department began providing a

weekly situation update

, replacing the daily updates that began in spring 2020. The updates are released each Thursday at 11 a.m. and include data received as of 4 a.m. the preceding Tuesday. When the report refers to numbers from last week, it refers to information gathered from Sunday through Saturday the week before the information is released.

In all cases, the numbers in the updates are preliminary and may change as more information is received. The case numbers include positive test results reported to the state. Results of home tests are not included in state reports.

Between July 3 and July 9, a total of four deaths were reported in the area — two in Stearns and two in Meeker counties.

New cases reported the week of July 3 to July 9 in the 11 counties tracked by the West Central Tribune:

* Big Stone, 3

* Chippewa, 10

* Kandiyohi, 53

* Lac qui Parle, 8

* Meeker, 24

* Pope, 17

* Redwood, 12

* Renville, 41

* Stearns, 242

* Swift, 11

* Yellow Medicine, 8

The state's cumulative number of cases is now listed at 1,571,008, including reinfections. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 again more than 90 days after an initial lab-confirmed positive test are considered to have a reinfection.

According to the state update, 100% of the cases in Minnesota are caused by the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The state's current total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 is now at 12,872.

The state also reports vaccine administration numbers. As of July 12, 3,945,756 Minnesotans have received one dose and 3,809,445 have completed the vaccine series statewide. The number of people listed as being up-to-date with their vaccines, meaning they have had booster shots, is 1,696,009.