According to the Pioneer Press, a team of state and federal health workers were recently confronted by armed residents  who were conducting random coronavirus testing in communities across Minnesota.

The incident came to light after at least two Twin Cities-area police departments posted an email from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety on their social media accounts.

"The households are randomly selected so examiners will be out knocking on doors," the message says. "I am sending this email because a team of MDH and CDC examiners was recently confronted by a group of armed citizens while out in a neighborhood."

When confronted by the armed group, the team simply turned around and walked away and were not followed, according to a spokesperson.

"The incident was unfortunate," Julie Bartkey, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Health said to the Pioneer Press. "The team did the right thing by leaving and notifying their study site coordinator of the situation."

"The vast majority of neighborhoods have been friendly, but we will continue to monitor for concerns as we move through different areas of the state," Bartkey said. "It could have been a simple misunderstanding, we simply don't know."

It's good that some people are beginning to push back against this. It will be better when more people do so. Not with violence – but by making it clear that violence will be answered, should it come to that.