Minnesota sees 2nd COVID-19 death; confirmed cases rise to 346

Published 11:12 am Thursday, March 26, 2020

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The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed Thursday the second person in the state has died from COVID-19.

The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed a second death related to COVID-19 Thursday morning. – Provided

The individual was from Ramsey County and in their 80s.

“We share our condolences with the family and friends of the deceased person, and we will continue to work hard to prevent additional illnesses and deaths in Minnesota,” a Minnesota Department of Health statement said. “All Minnesotans can help us in this work by following the state’s guidance to stay at home, practice social distancing and be diligent about washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes.”

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The total confirmed cases rose to 346, with 41 cases requiring hospitalization. Of the patients who required hospitalization, 31 remain in the hospital.

The department said 12,950 total tests have been completed, including 6,849 through the Minnesota Department of Public Health lab and 6,101 through external laboratories. The department states not all cases of COVID-19 are tested, so it is not representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19.

The highest number of confirmed cases are in Hennepin County with 128 and Ramsey County with 32.

Mower County has had 10 confirmed cases, Steele has had five, Waseca has had two, Blue Earth has had six and Olmsted has had 29.

No cases have been confirmed in Freeborn or Faribault counties.