East Twin Cities

Minnesota's long-term care facilities have received the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, making up 78.8% of all coronavirus deaths in the state, The Center Square reported. 

Most of those in long-term care facilities were elderly or had a preexisting health condition, which makes Minnesota the state with the second most coronavirus deaths to long-term care patients after Connecticut. Of Connecticut's coronavirus deaths, 82% were of those in long-term care. 

But neighboring states saw fewer long-term care deaths than Minnesota, including Wisconsin with 43% and Iowa with 51%. 

Minnesota has seen as least 608 people die in nursing homes, 259 die in assisted living and 29 die in memory care from the coronavirus as of June, The Center Square reported. 

Associate State Director for Advocacy at Minnesota AARP Mary Jo George told The Center Square  more work needs to be done to protect residents in long-term care facilities from the virus. 

“I think it has amplified what work we need to continue to do with these facilities,” George told The Center Square.

But Minnesota isn't the only one suffering from long-term care coronavirus-related deaths. As a whole, the U.S. has seen 45% of all coronavirus deaths be those of long-term care patients.