Nearly everybody who has died of COVID-19 in Minnesota has been a resident of a nursing home or similar long term care facility, or has suffered from a significant underlying health condition.
New statistics from the Minnesota Health Department, publicized by KSTP-TV’s Chief Political Reporter Tom Hauser and show that 99.24% Minnesotans who have succumbed to coronavirus were either in a long term care facility or suffered from “significant underlying health conditions.”
MN Health Department says 99.24% of all MN Covid-19 deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities or among people with significant underlying health conditions. Of today’s 18 deaths, 16 were in long-term care.
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) April 29, 2020
Hauser has consistently reported on how the majority of coronavirus related deaths in his state have occured in long term care facilities. Last week, 70% of deaths had occured in nursing homes. Earlier this week, that figure was up to 75%.
As these numbers become public, many Minnesotans have begun to question the necessity of their state’s authoritative response to the virus. Since March 17, Governor Tim Walz has kept the economy shut down while citizens have been told to remain in their homes as much as possible.
However, Kris Ehresman with the Minnesota Department of Health maintains that these steps are “the right thing for the community,” even when pressed about statistics that show how the average citizen is in virtually no danger from the virus, according to former State House canidate Sheila Kihne.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has reported more deaths per million residents than neighboring states who have taken a less severe approach to preventing transmission of coronavirus.
Minnesota has recorded 365 COVID-19 related deaths as of April 28, per KTTC. If the Health Department’s new statistics are accurate, this means that only 2 to 3 Minnesotans who were not in a nursing home and who haven’t had a significant complicating condition have died of the virus.
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
