Younger not necessarily healthier in Minnesota's COVID-19 hospital surge

Trend in younger hospitalizations fueled by vaccination of senior citizens, viral variants spreading among children and their parents

Apr 29, 20210

Aaron Lavinsky - Star Tribune count

Kristi Kline, a critical care nurse with North Memorial, looked over a COVID patient, a man in his 30s as a team of nurses and respiratory therapists prepared to flip him into the prone position Tuesday morning.

One month after celebrating zero COVID-19 patients - cheering when the news was announced - the caregivers on South Seven at North Memorial Health Hospital were back battling the pandemic.

On this April morning, physical therapist Panagiotes Nelson-Nikolaides knelt on the bed behind one patient and encouraged him to practice sitting to exercise his core muscles. A cough erupted as the man straightened up.

"Good, that was nice," the therapist said. "Does it hurt? No? OK. One more time."

https://www.startribune.com/younger-not-necessarily-healthier-in-minnesota-s-covid-19-hospital-surge/600051378/