DULUTH, MN (CBS-3) – While the U.S. as a whole is seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases, that’s not the case everywhere.
Minnesota reported 7,942 new COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths over the weekend.
In St. Louis County, 273 people tested positive over the weekend, and one person died from the virus.
Duluth hospital leaders said they are seeing the highest number of COVID-19 cases and patients admitted to the hospital since peak numbers last winter.
Essentia Health systems across the state have 129 people hospitalized with COVID-19.
Half of them are currently at St. Mary’s in Duluth.
25% of the Essentia Intensive Care Unit patients are there with COVID-19 and most of them are not vaccinated.
St. Luke’s representatives said 30% of their ICU patients have the virus.
Dr. Christina Bastin De Jong is a critical care physician at Essentia Health and says the vaccine is the most effective way to protect yourself and others from the virus.
Less than 60% of the population in St. Louis County has received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.
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