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Age Structure Charts, May 12

By May 14, 2022Commentary

In this weeks age structure charts we begin to see the older age groups getting hit a little harder, despite being heavily boosted and vaxed.

Dave’s notes:

  1. Overall, Covid cases, ICU admissions, and non-ICU admissions continue to rise, and deaths for the 80+ age group are rising as well.
  2. Fig. 1 and 2: Covid Cases Per Week. The reported Covid cases this week are higher again this week for all age groups, with the rate of increase in cases still rising. We appear to be at least a couple weeks before we reach the peak in new daily cases. Total reported cases for the week were 13,540 total for all age groups, an increase from the 10,415 revised cases reported last week, and 7,449 cases 2 weeks ago.
  3. Fig. 3 and 4: ICU Covid Admissions Per Week. Reported total ICU admissions for the week were 47, an increase of 17 from the total of 30 admissions reported last week. The 60-69 and 70-79 age groups had relatively large increases  in ICU admissions this week. We continue to believe that incidental Covid cases make up roughly 50% of the new Covid admissions, based on past Minnesota Department of Health statements. We have yet to receive any updated data in response to our Government Data Practices Act request.
  4. Fig. 5 and 6: Non-ICU Covid Admissions Per Week. Reported Non-ICU Covid admissions were higher again this week in all age groups except the 0-9 and 10-19 age groups, with a total of 412 admissions reported, an increase of 77 admissions from last week’s total of 335.
  5. Fig. 7 and 8: Covid Deaths Per Week. Total reported Covid deaths for the week were 26, an increase of 8 from the 18 reported deaths last week.  The 80+ age group increased sharply rom 5 to 14 deaths, with the other age groups stable or declining.

Data Sources:

  1. The data for the charts on testing, hospital admissions, and deaths comes from the Minnesota Weekly Report (available here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/stats/index.html). The data in the Weekly Report is presented as cumulative totals for each data type each week. I am taking weekly differences and assembling the data into charts. This data is by date of report, meaning the charts are documenting new events reported this week, even though the underlying event occurred sometime in the past. The data is provided for 5 year age groups, and I am assembling into 10 year age groups to make the charts more readable.
  2. The data for the Covid cases per week come from a data file published along with the Minnesota Weekly Report, here: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/stats/index.html#wagscd1 This data is published by date of specimen collection, rather than by date of report as the other data is. The data is provided as cases per week in 5 year age groups. I am compiling the data into 10 year age groups in order for the charts to be more readable. This data is updated by date of specimen collection, so it is possible that past week’s data will be updated.

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