Minnesota reports 13 more COVID-19 deaths, 826 new cases

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An additional 13 people have died from COVID-19-related complications in Minnesota, bringing the state’s death toll from the virus to 6,475, the state’s Department of Health reported Saturday.

The state also reported 826 new COVID-19 cases, bringing that total to 483,790 since the pandemic began.

The most current vaccine data from Wednesday shows that 804,716 Minnesotans have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 405,992 people have completed the full two-dose series.

On Friday, advocates for some vulnerable populations raised concerns that people with some chronic conditions were not prioritized to receive the vaccine in the state’s vaccination rollout plan that was announced Thursday. Advocates noted that some people with conditions that could put them at higher risk for complications — such as intellectual and physical disabilities, schizophrenia or type 1 diabetes — won’t be prioritized.

“I was thrilled but surprised that the disability community in general was left behind,” Sarah Curfman, executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota, told the Star Tribune.

The newspaper reported that disability advocates met with officials from the health department and the governor’s office Friday, but no agreement was reached.