![MDH: Rural Minnesotans at High Risk for COVID-19](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/08/Farm-Friends-Barn.jpg?w=980&q=75)
MDH: Rural Minnesotans at High Risk for COVID-19
ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Department of Health says people in rural counties are still at a high risk for COVID-19, despite the numbers showing high numbers of cases are in urban areas.
At Wednesday's daily conference in St. Paul, Commissioner Jan Malcolm said one trend they’ve noticed is less social distancing by people in rural parts of the state.
We've seen some metrics suggesting that people in some of the rural areas of the state may be following the social distancing guidance with a little less rigor, perhaps lulled into a sense of security, a false sense of security I would say, by the fact that most of the cases so far are in the Twin Cities and other uran areas.
Malcolm says other factors include higher populations of elderly residents, more people with underlying health conditions, and less access to quality healthcare in those counties.
The MDH recommends that all Minnesotans continue to practice social distancing among other mitigation strategies.
![AM 1240 WJON logo](https://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/11/attachment-wjonam-alexacard-big.jpg?w=100)
St. Cloud Kids Share Their Optimism Through Sidewalk Chalk Drawings
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Boys and Girls Clubs Offering New Reading and Math Programming](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/02/DSC05326.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Blaine Man Charged in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2020/09/Courtroom.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Reasons Why COVID Can Be Worse on Some and Not Others](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/12/attachment-Coughing.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Why More People in Central MN are Getting the Latest Version of COVID](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2021/12/attachment-Coughing.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Where to Dine Outdoors in Central Minnesota](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2020/05/RS26088_GettyImages-475888436.jpeg?w=980&q=75)
![City of St. Cloud Tracking COVID Through Wastewater](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2014/02/Wastewater-Facility.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![COVID-19 Patients Way Down at St. Cloud Hospital](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2018/08/St.-Cloud-Hospital-5.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Available for All Online](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2022/02/attachment-annie-spratt-PXZEg4hnyVw-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Available for All Minnesotans](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2022/02/attachment-annie-spratt-PXZEg4hnyVw-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)