Our newest death factories

"Stay strong Minnesota. Keep the pressure up on our state government. We need to open up, and fast. We need our State Fair to be open this year. We need our care facilities protected. We know what to do Walz, now leave us alone."   

Today, our wayward Governor is going to announce where the state of Minnesota is headed next month. What opens up, what stays closed. He will remind us that we are now hitting about 400 new COVID - 19 cases a day, and our death count is a staggering 319 and counting. I know - compared to NYC, a statewide death toll of 319 seems like small potatoes. I mean after all, NYC alone has had almost 13,000 deaths from this virus. But our fatality number of 319 is misleading. As reported yesterday, 78% of these deaths happened in congregate long term facilities.

Life in not good these days in our care facilities. Many of these seniors are fully aware of what is going on. They know they are living in petri dishes. They know some of their fellow residents have contacted this disease. And they know that some have died. Plus they know their visits from loved ones have dried up to about zero. They know if they get sick, they are on their own. They will be sick alone, and maybe die alone. And once dead, a respectful funeral is probably out of the question. 

Saint Therese and North Ridge in New Hope have been particularly savaged. I am familiar with both, as when we were looking for a care facility for my mother, we toured both of them. Both had good reputations. But the bottom line is this - it does not matter the county, nor the city a care facility is located in. Many have already been invaded by this virus. Plus, that story does not end in Minnesota. Congregate facilities all over the country are dangerous for residents and staff alike.

The number of people who have passed from this disease in Minnesota, and are not residents of congregate facilities, is less than 100. A number not that much higher than the people who have died in traffic accidents this year. Why is this important to know? We shut down the state for a disease which is the most deadly to senior citizens who are residents of care facilities. Bottom line? We over protected those who are younger and healthier, and had jobs. We under protected those who really needed the protection. For how we have handled this first wave, I give us an "F". 

Before the second wave hits this fall, we need a huge "do better". We absolutely have to figure out how to protect our most vulnerable. And for those who only need a modest bit of protection (like, younger people who have a job), we need to let them live their lives. No more of this having young healthy people climbing the walls of their houses, when their places of employment are on life support.

We can't get back to normal, until we start living like normal. And we can't start living like normal with everything being shut down. What would things look like right now if we had not shut down most of the state? All we need do is set our gaze westward. To South Dakota. Somehow, they are surviving without being shut down. In fact, other than the Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota has done very well. 

Stay strong Minnesota. Keep the pressure up on our state government. We need to open up, and fast. We need our State Fair to be open this year. We need our care facilities protected. We know what to do Walz, now leave us alone.