The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota climbed by 12 on Wednesday, making for a total of 89 cases statewide, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
While the cases span across the state, including 18 counties, most have been concentrated in the Twin Cities metro area, with Hennepin County now at 33 cases and Ramsey County at 12.
The state reported the first case north of Stearns County in Wadena County. Seven people have been hospitalized, including four currently. One patient, an Anoka County resident in their 30s, remains in critical condition.
However, officials acknowledge that the official numbers are an undercount because of the lack of availability of tests due to a national shortage of supplies caused them to restrict testing to those hospitalized and living on congregate housing like long-term care, as well as healthcare workers.
"The 89 cases really represent the tip of the iceberg," MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann said. "We have community transmission occurring in Minnesota, so while it's certainly constructive to know what's happening with the confirmed cases, we know there is much more COVID activity that is occurring in the state of Minnesota."
On Wednesday, Gov. Tim Walz said MDH has had to freeze 1,700 tests. Walz wrote a letter to Vice President Mike Pence in early March calling for the capability to test 15,000 people a month.
“We can’t test them, those are people that needed to be tested,” he said.
It's why officials like Ehresmann continue to stress staying home when sick and social distancing, even when statistics show "81 percent of cases will be mild."
"We've got two extremes in the population and I think we'd like to see both of them come to the middle," Ehresmann said. "We have individuals who are absolutely panicked about COVID-19, and while we want people to take this seriously, we don't want people to feel panicked."