In Minnesota and across the U.S., virus death toll keeps climbing

As of Monday morning, 143 Minnesotans had died from COVID-19, with more than half of those fatalities occurring since April 14. The virus has now claimed more lives in the U.S. than anywhere in the world, including an estimated 15,000 in the last week alone. Some public health experts believe the limited availability of testing and challenges in identifying a cause of death may be preventing an accurate count of the virus' toll.

Minnesota's virus deaths rise steadily

The state's first death, a Ramsey County resident in their 80s, was reported a month ago. Since then, the virus-related death toll has risen at a steady rate, reaching 18 of Minnesota's 87 counties. The two largest single-day death totals — 17 and 13 — have been reported over the past four days.