MINNEAPOLIS – State health officials are scratching their heads to understand racist-tinged assaults on COVID survey teams in rural areas. Epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield acknowledged that people are hurting and frustrated by the pandemic. “But,” she said, “this is distinctly different than taking out frustration on another human being who is trying to help and is especially galling when there is a taint of racism.”Said an exasperated Lynfield: The enemy is the virus, not us.” The incidents in caused anxiety among survey workers, said project coordinator Stephanie Yendell. Because of ambush-style hostility and threats the state Health Department discontinued the survey. The survey was one of many financed nationwide by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Earlier: COVID field study yielded data before cutoff