Hennepin County Student Dies From COVID-19

HENNEPIN COUNTY, MN — A teenager in Hennepin County died from COVID-19 this week, the Minnesota Department of Health reported. The teen was in the age range of 15 to 19. No other information about the student was released.

The news marks the fourth Minnesotan between the age of 19 and zero that have died from the virus since the pandemic started.

Two staff deaths were also reported this week.

A total of 13 school staff members and two students have now died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

The state's largest teachers union said the news should remind school districts to follow federal health guidelines.

"Five school staff members and one student have died of COVID-19 this school year and it’s only October," said Denise Specht, president of Education Minnesota, in a news release.

"There is no excuse for any district leader to ignore the guidelines for masking, social distancing, quarantining and vaccinations set out by state and federal public health authorities."

Specht also asked that parents "please reduce the risk of another tragic death of a student by vaccinating their teens. When the vaccine becomes available to younger children, vaccinate them, too."