COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota
The COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota is part of an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the state of Minnesota. The first confirmed case was reported on March 6, 2020.
COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota
March 6, 2020
463,132 (February 1)
(36,618 health care workers)
5,056 (cumulative)
24,447 (cumulative)
448,595
6,210
Governor Tim Walz declared a state of emergency on March 13.[1]
As of May 28, 2021, Minnesota has administered 5,360,493 COVID-19 vaccine doses, and has fully vaccinated 2,329,984 people, equivalent to 41.88 percent of the population.[2]
On May 6, 2021, Governor Tim Walz announced that COVID-19 restrictions would end on May 28, 2021, and the mask mandate would be lifted July 1, 2021.[3] On Friday May 14, 2021, Tim Walz signed an executive order that lifted the mask mandate.[4]
Impact[edit]
Social[edit]
COVID-19 killed 1,130 people in Hennepin County as of December 2020.[163] The city gave free coronavirus tests and flu shots.[164] During the COVID-19 pandemic, most utilities and city business continued, some with reduced service, and shutoffs were suspended.[165] Wifi was free city-wide and government was conducted online.[165] In Minnesota, 1 in 2 black workers lost their jobs, compared to 1 in 4 whites.[166] The pandemic furthered health inequities in Minneapolis and Minnesota. Researchers found that the rates of cases, hospitalization, and deaths for Black and Latino residents were higher than for White residents.[167][168]
Minneapolis public schools began the 2020–2021 academic year with remote leaning for all grade levels.[169] The city's public school district lost 2.8 percent of their students in 2020.[170]
34% of Minnesotans reported a loss in employment income in April 2020, just after the COVID-19 pandemic began (Census Bureau, Household Pulse Survey). A loss of employment income cause direct impact for living expenses, retirement savings, and emergency expenses. More than 500,000 continued unemployment claims were filed at its peak in April and May 2020.[171]
Several chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, asthma, cancer, COPD, and high blood pressure, were identified as COVID-19 risk factors. Consistent and accessible health care is required for the treatment and care of these chronic conditions. Seeking care for one of these conditions could have been difficult with the capacity of hospitals and hospital staff being tested with the onset of various COVID-19 spikes.[171]
According to the Pulse survey, nearly 20 million adults lived in households where they didn't get enough to eat in October 2021, 12 million adult renters were behind on their rent, and some of the progress made since late March appeared to have stalled as other economic problems persisted.[172]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities of color and immigrants in Minnesota's workforce are bearing economic hardship and health risks impacts.[173]
Black Minnesotans accounted for 7.5% of COVID-19 deaths. Since African Americans make up about 7% of Minnesota's population, there appears to be little racial disparity in COVID-19-related deaths between Black and White Minnesotans at first glance.[174][175]