Despite Minnesota’s wide reaching economic shutdowns and its long lasting shelter in place order, it has reported more deaths per million citizens resulting from coronavirus than Iowa and South Dakota which have not responded so harshly.
Minnesota has 49 deaths per million residents while Iowa and South Dakota have just 38 and 13 respectively, according to Minnesota State Representative Pat Garofalo.
COVID-19 Deaths per million residents by state.
WARNING: This data may not conform to your preferred narrative. In fairness, it has surpised me too. The virus is obviously much different than we 1st thought.
S. Dakota – 13
N. Dakota – 23
Iowa – 38
Minnesota – 49
Florida – 52— Representative Pat Garofalo (@PatGarofalo) April 27, 2020
Garofalo’s statistics appear to coincide with the numbers of COVID-19 related deaths in each Midwestern state reported by Google Statistics as of Monday morning.
Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz first issued a stay at home order in late March. The governor has since extended the order to last through May 4, and may issue another extension soon, according to MPR.
Walz also closed businesses that serve as public gathering spaces March 17. These businesses remain closed.
Walz is concerned that once his orders are lifted, people will return to public life too quickly. “I’m just afraid people are ready to bust out and this thing [COVID-19] spikes up,” he said, per MPR.
While South Dakota and Iowa have also closed bars, restaurants and related institutions these states have not issued stay at home orders. Additionally, Iowa plans to reopen its economy, Thursday, per a government website.
“I’m making decisions to actually do good, not make decisions that just make people feel good,” South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem said earlier this month, per Inforum.
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.
