'Substantial' Coronavirus Spread In Minneapolis Area: CDC

MINNEAPOLIS — Coronavirus cases are rising in the Minneapolis area, according to public health data. The Centers for Disease Control now categorizes Hennepin County as an area with a "substantial" level of community transmission.

Counties that have "high" or "substantial" transmission should implement a mask mandate, according to the CDC.

Health officials blame the ongoing case surges around the country on the delta variant, which is twice as infectious as the original strain of the coronavirus, according to public health officials.

In Hennepin County, new cases are up by 153 percent over the last two weeks, the New York Times reports. On Saturday, Florida reported its highest number of new coronavirus cases in a single day since the pandemic started, according to the CDC.

However, the coronavirus vaccine is effective against the delta variant, particularly two weeks after both doses are received, public health officials said.

Sixty-five percent of all Hennepin County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to state data.

The surge in cases is leading to new mask and vaccine mandates from schools and companies in Minnesota.

Read more: Latest MN Vaccine And Mask Mandates: See Who's Requiring Them