The rate of tests coming back positive for COVD-19 in the past reporting week is inching up but still below the 5 percent officials find concerning.

“Heading up in case counts is a direction that no one wanted to go,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm told reporters Monday, noting that the delta variant is responsible now for about 85 percent of new cases in the state.

Nearly 70 percent of state residents 16 and older have received at least one vaccination shot.

Among those vaccinated, about 4,500 people, well below 1 percent, have gone on to get COVID-19 with 455 ending up hospitalized and 56 dying, Malcolm said, calling the data “amazing evidence” of the vaccines’ protection.

Officials hope by the end of August, at least 70 percent of the state’s 16-and-older population will be have at least one vaccine dose, although the rate of vaccination continues to sputter along.

Listen to Monday’s COVID-19 briefing from Minnesota public health officials:.