The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed the first official death of a Crow Wing County resident due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. MDH informed the county of the confirmed death late Monday, April 27, and said that the resident is a man in his 70s.
Multiple sources have confirmed the person who died is Maury Graham, of Pequot Lakes.
“Our condolences go out to this man’s family and friends,” said Crow Wing County Board Chairman Paul Koering. “We’ve all seen reports of outbreak-related deaths in other states and counties in Minnesota. This is another sad milestone in the battle against COVID-19 in our community. This Crow Wing County death reminds us how important it is to continue working to protect each other during this outbreak.”
The Crow Wing County Public Health team continues to work closely with Minnesota health officials from the Minnesota Department of Health to follow recommended guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
In a majority of cases, COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. Health officials recommend individuals and families make a plan in case someone gets sick. They also suggest following the same steps for avoiding the flu:
Stay home and away from others if you are sick
Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue.
Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water.
Avoid touching your face.
The Minnesota Department of Health has set up COVID-19 Hotlines available every day:
- School and childcare questions: 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Health questions: 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Visit www.cdc.gov and www.health.state.mn.us for more information about COVID-19
As a public service, we’ve opened this article to everyone regardless of subscription status. If this coverage is important to you, please consider supporting local journalism by clicking on the subscribe button in the upper righthand corner of the homepage.
