Minnesota reports 16 COVID-19 deaths; highest total in a month

Oct 01, 20200

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Cheryl Odegaard, a medical assistant at St. Luke's Respiratory Clinic, administered a COVID-19 test to a patient in their drive thru testing site on Thursday. ]ALEX KORMANN • alex.kormann@startribune.comSt. Luke's Respiratory Clinic administers an average of 50 COVID-19 tests each day. The testing site saw around that number on Thursday September 24, 2020.

Sixteen COVID-19 deaths were reported Wednesday by Minnesota health authorities, who urged people to seek flu shots to prevent seasonal influenza from exacerbating a worsening pandemic.

Large social gatherings, Labor Day weekend festivities and college and K-12 school classes and events have contributed to an acceleration in infections with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, said Kris Ehresmann, state infectious disease director.

The state is now reporting 17 new infections with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 per day per 100,000 people, its highest rate in the pandemic. The state's COVID-19 death toll is now 2,036.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-reports-16-covid-19-deaths-highest-total-in-a-month/572588452/