Kris Ehresmann has been on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 in Minnesota, helping to protect people from the deadly virus.
Ehresmann is director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Division at the Minnesota Department of Health.
She says people think that only the frail or those with underlying conditions are the ones dying. That’s not so. Ehresmann says she's seeing younger and younger patients come in and die from what is now a preventable illness.
“These are people that are, you know, out and about leading a healthy life, not frail and on oxygen and are barely hanging on,” Ehresmann explains. “No. These are a very sad situation.”
The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting nearly 70 more people have died from COVID-19.
Ehresmann says the majority continued to be the unvaccinated.
The warning from the state comes as many people have been celebrating the holidays with friends and family. With New Year’s parties looming, locally and nationally health providers are warning that COVID is still a problem.
Speaking at a White House COVID-19 Task Force briefing focusing on the fast-spreading omicron variant, Dr. Anthony Fauci said large parties with dozens of people aren’t a good idea for New Year’s weekend.
“If your plans are to go to a 40-to-50-person New Year’s Eve party with all the bells and whistles and everybody hugging and kissing and wishing each other a Happy New Year, I would strongly recommend that, this year, we do not do that,” Fauci said.
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