During the week ending August 3, 218 Minnesotans were admitted to hospitals across the state with COVID-19, according to the latest data from the Minnesota Department of Health.

This is the eighth consecutive week of rising COVID hospitalizations, starting with a low of 58 admissions in the first week of June.

While this upward trend is lower than many levels seen earlier in the pandemic, it reflects the somewhat later surge last summer that ultimately lasted five months and peaked with over 600 weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations in Minnesota.

As has been the case since COVID-19, where people are hospitalized, older people are bearing the brunt. Over a quarter of the 218 COVID-related hospitalizations reported during the week ending August 3 were among Minnesotans age 85 or older.

Since this oldest age group only includes about 116,000 people in total, the rate equates to 58 hospitalizations per 100,000 residents – by far the highest rate of any age group in the state.

While every death is a tragedy, it’s fortunate that COVID-19 death rates have not spiked sharply so far. In the most recent week for which final data is available (which ended July 20), nine Minnesota residents died of COVID-19. But preliminary data from the Minnesota Department of Health suggests that may be changing: The week ending August 3 saw twice as many deaths caused at least in part by COVID-19.

Wastewater data, a key indicator of COVID-19 activity, is another warning sign that Minnesota could see more COVID-related hospitalizations and even deaths in the coming weeks. Data released Friday from the University of Minnesota’s ongoing wastewater monitoring study shows that COVID measurements across the state reached levels in early August not seen since January — when the state saw its last major peak in COVID-related hospitalizations.

The timing of the rise in COVID-19 activity here in Minnesota, which is consistent with national trends, is uneven. On the other hand, the current surge comes at a time when Minnesotans will soon be gathering in even larger numbers, including at the State Fair and in classrooms with the start of the fall academic calendar.

On the positive side, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an updated formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available in September. The updated vaccine is expected to provide better protection against the COVID-19 variants currently circulating.

For more information, see COVID-19 in Minnesota: Key data page.