(St. Paul MN-) The Minnesota Department of Health Wednesday reported 1504 additional cases of COVID-19 and 50 deaths. One of the deaths was in Chippewa County, a person in their early 90s, and one in Stearns County, a person in their late 80s. Minnesota's pandemic death toll now stands at 5500, and there have been just over 440,000 cases reported. Of that number, just over 419,000 have recovered to the point they no longer need isolation. The figures were based on approximately 18,700 test results. Since Monday, 70 more people have been hospitalized with coronavirus and 9 went to the ICU. Through Sunday nearly 147,000 Minnesotans have been vaccinated, with 1207 in Kandiyohi County.

Locally, there were 37 cases reported Wednesday in Stearns County, 11 in Kandiyohi, 5 in Meeker, 2 each in Chippewa, Renville and Swift Counties, and 1 in Pope County.

Totals           cases         deaths

Chippewa      1306             32

Kandiyohi      5500             69

Meeker         1972              33

Pope               733              5

Renville         1356             39

Stearns       17,648           180

Swift                823            17