Concern over spread of COVID-19 in long term care facilities

Concern over spread of COVID-19 in long term care facilities

At six.

I'm katie lange.

And i'm george mallet.

Health experts in minnesota say they're seeing a concerning trend regarding the spread of coronavirus in long?

"*term care facilities.

Kimt news three's anthony monzon joins us live with the message from governor walz and the minnesota department of health.

Anthony?

Katie... george... the floodwall is being breached.

That's the message from public health experts who say they're seeing the rate of new coronavirus cases in long term care facilities mirror that of cases in the general public.

Mdh commissioner jan malcom says from the beginning of september to the end of october... new cases among minnesotans increased by 73?

"*percent... while new cases in minnesota's long term care facilities increased by only 15 percent.

But over the course of the next two months... october and november... new cases in the state population and long term care facilities both increased by more than 400?

"* percent.

Experts attribute that rate increase to workers at long term care facilities being exposed to coronavirus in their communities.

"they live in your communities.

And they stop on the way home and pick up their children from daycare.

It's those places that if you're not wearing a mask, or your child gets it and they pass it on, and it goes to that person, and then they take it into a care facility."

Walz also says the crisis really starts when nobody is there to work in these facilities.

And to that end... this afternoon i spoke to john stene... the executive director of river bend assisted living.

He tells me river bend is short staffed... and says while they were planning on start letting essential caregivers... which are often family members... back in the facility.... they've now had to postpone that plan.

Live in rochester... anthony monzon... thank you anthony.

Stene also tells kimt news 3 if you have a loved one in an assisted living facility... please reach out to them during the holidays.

He also emplores