Fifty more people tested positive for COVID-19 in St. Louis County on Friday — the most cases that have been recorded there in a single day, according to the county's dashboard.
So far this week, the county has recorded 164 cases since Sunday, with the daily average of new cases at 27.33.
The county reported that 60% of the 50 new cases were in teenagers as well as people in their 20s. Forty of them were recorded in the Duluth area.
St. Louis County has been observing the significant increase in people ages 15-24 since July. Public Health Division Director Amy Westbrook said in a news release from the county that the exposure is often attributed to social gatherings.
"We need people to remain vigilant because the virus' presence in our communities is more prevalent than ever," Westbrook said. "For college and high school students in particular, we understand that you want to be with friends and do normal activities, but it's more important now than ever to follow the recommendations to wear masks, social distance and absolutely stay home if you're sick. This is to protect your own health and others in the community."
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Newly reported cases typically indicate virus activity from one or two weeks prior, the county's release read, meaning infections announced on Friday likely occurred since Labor Day.
The county reported on Friday that seven people in the county were hospitalized with COVID-19. That number increased by one in the last day. One of those patients is in an intensive care unit.
Of the 1,284 St. Louis County residents who have tested positive over the last six months, the county estimates that 222 of them are currently requiring isolation.
Also in Northeastern Minnesota, nine more people have tested positive in Itasca County, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Itasca County has recorded 264 lab-confirmed cases since the pandemic began.
Carlton County recorded six more diagnoses on Friday, bringing its total count to 231.
Two more people have tested positive in Koochiching County, which has recorded four cases in the last week.
Statewide, Minnesota reported 1,099 more people with COVID-19 and the completion of 29,431 diagnostic tests. That's one of the highest testing counts the state has reported.
Eight more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Douglas County, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
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Three more people have been diagnosed in Bayfield County and one more in Ashland County.
Wisconsin reported 2,533 more people with COVID-19 on Friday. That's the most the state has reported in a single day. Before Friday, the highest single-day count was on Thursday with 2,034 new cases.
Another 13,047 diagnostic tests have been administered, putting the positivity rate very high at 19.4%.
Seven more Wisconsin residents have died from COVID-19. None of them were Northland residents.
This story was updated at 2:19 p.m. Sept. 18 with Wisconsin Department of Health Services data. It was originally posted at 11:25 a.m. Sept. 18.
