Minnesota ICU patients with COVID-19 drops to three month low

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The number of coronavirus patients in Minnesota intensive care units has dipped to a three-month low.

The Minnesota Department of Health on Thursday reported 103 patients in intensive care, a total last seen April 16 in the early weeks of the pandemic.

It also reported 249 total hospitalizations, continuing a downward trend from a peak in late May.

The state reported eight new deaths in line with another slow decline.

But there are also concerning signs. The state’s positivity rate – a measure of whether spread is accelerating – has inched up from 3.4% two weeks ago to 4.3%