Student dies from COVID-19 infection associated with school

A second student has died this school year of a COVID-19 infection associated with schools, Education Minnesota said Thursday.

According to the latest data from the Minnesota Department of Health, three students have died from school-related cases since the start of the pandemic in addition to 18 staff members. In total, there have been 47,223 COVID-19 infections among K-12 students; 191 of those cases have resulted in hospitalization, and 26 needed intensive care.

The MDH’s weekly report does not give identifying information for students and staff members who die of COVID-19, but health officials in the past week reported a teenager in Beltrami County with a preexisting condition died of COVID-19.

“This is tragic news and I hope Minnesotans can pull together and do all we can to prevent another student from dying of this virus,” said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota. “We must stay strong and do all we can do to make school buildings safe places to learn and work.”

In a news release, Education Minnesota — the largest teachers’ union in the state — said it has urged MDH to release anonymous summary information on the school staff members who have died of COVID-19 and the students and staff who have been hospitalized from infections.

"This information would help school district decision-makers improve safety protocols for students and staff," the release states.

Since the start of the pandemic, seven Minnesotans 19 and younger have died of COVID-19, according to MDH data.