Minnesota Reports First Child Death From COVID-19 Amid State's Highest Day Of Coronavirus Cases

Minnesota recorded its first child death from COVID-19 with a 9-month-old baby - one of the youngest deaths reported in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic.

The child, from Clay County, Minnesota, was thought to have no underlying health conditions and was not hospitalized, the StarTribune reported. Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, said during a press conference on Monday afternoon that the incident was “isolated” and a “very specific situation.”

Minnesota has reported over 1,500 deaths from COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, and over 47,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, John Hopkins University said.

The state declined to release any additional details about the child.

“An infant death is devastating, and thankfully there have not been a lot of infant deaths in the country, but we want to make sure that we’re understanding as much as we can about ... the changes that occurred with this infant in terms of the progression of their illness,” Kris Ehresmann, Minnesota infectious disease director said.

The news of the child’s death comes as states around the country warn young people about the dangers of the coronavirus. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has warned that he will shut down the state again if young people continue to congregate while Florida has seen is beaches swarmed with young people as the coronavirus numbers continue to surge.

On Monday, Minnesota reported 922 new cases of the coronavirus – the highest number of cases in a single day since the pandemic started. Cases in young people, 29 and younger, have increased 144% over the past month in Minnesota, with total cases rising by 87%, the StarTribune said.