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By Craig Helmstetter

Need some good news? The state’s recent spike in hospitalizations due to influenza have now fallen sharply for two consecutive weeks. After a far less dramatic uptick in respiratory syncytial virus, preliminary data shows a downtick in RSV hospitalizations as well.

This is according to the data issued Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health, which also shows COVID-19 related hospitalizations have fallen for two weeks. Wastewater data from the University of Minnesota also shows statewide COVID-19 levels falling for the most recent two week period.

In even more good news, the department’s data indicates that, after a big surge in pertussis cases (better known as whooping cough) that peaked around Thanksgiving, the drop in late 2024 has been sustained in early 2025.

The communicable disease picture is not all rosy in the state, however. 

The January norovirus outbreaks that we reported for “the winter vomiting bug” just two weeks ago has now increased from 26 to 91 outbreaks — which together have involved 2,499 sick individuals. That is an increase from the already way-above-average norovirus statistics that the department reported for December: 84 outbreaks involving a total of 2,021 known cases.

Even the downward trend in COVID-19 activity is not without an unfortunate footnote. Preliminary data for the week ending Jan. 11 shows that 33 Minnesotans lost their lives due at least in part to COVID-19. That is the state’s highest weekly COVID-19 mortality report since Feb. 2024.

While the preliminary mortality data could be revised, and likely upward, it is also likely that COVID-19 deaths will follow hospitalization trends and decrease in weeks to come.