Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester area has recorded its first death due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Olmsted County Public Health Director Graham Briggs today announced a resident of Olmsted County has died after contracting COVID-19. Briggs says the person was in their 90s and was a resident of a long-term care facility. In making the announcement, Briggs expressed condolences to the family and indicated patient data privacy laws prevent the release of any additional information about the individual. There have now been 18 COVID-19 deaths in the state and 2 of them have been in southeastern Minnesota.

The number of cases of coronavirus in Olmsted County rose to 66 today with the addition of 5 new confirmed cases. Briggs says results of the coronavirus testing in the Rochester area suggests there is not a lot of community transmission taking place right now locally, but he also stressed that community transmission is taking place and likened the current situation to the “calm before the storm.”

Statewide, 63 new cases were reported today, raising the total to 742. The number of people currently hospitalized with the infection has risen to 75 and there are now 38 people being treated in intensive care units. The number of people reported hospitalized increased by over 20 and the number in ICU is up 11 from yesterday.

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