Photo by Evan Frost | MPR News May 4, 2020 Death toll passes 400 as more businesses reopen
Welcome to the new week and good morning. Here's your forecast and the latest on COVID-19 in Minnesota.
A sunny start to the week. Then, increasing clouds across the state and possible rain in the evening. Twin Cities highs in the lower 60s with 10 to 15 mph winds. Statewide highs near 60, except colder near Lake Superior. More on Updraft. | Forecast
Thousands of Minnesotans are back on the job today. Gov. Tim Walz's new stay-home order allows retailers and some other businesses to offer curbside pickup of purchases, which his administration says could put up to 30,000 people back to work.
But just because humans deem the economy ready to get rolling again doesn't mean the virus agrees. The death toll passed 400 over the weekend as the number of cases soared above 6,600.
Here are the latest coronavirus statistics:
6,663 cases via 82,632 tests
419 deaths
1,199 cases requiring hospitalization
373 people remain hospitalized; 155 in intensive care
3,015 patients recovered
Outbreaks in greater Minnesota continue to swell. Stearns County had 55 confirmed cases a week ago. Over the weekend, it ballooned to 589 cases. Nobles County in southwestern Minnesota now has 940 cases, by far the largest outbreak in the state relative to population.
Health officials have been "very sobered" by the outbreaks. Said Jan Malcolm, the state health commissioner: “At a time when we feel like we’re just getting our arms around the true spread of the disease, there’s some reluctance to open more broadly.”
State leaders are cautioning Minnesotans against removing their loved ones from nursing homes or group-care facilities. Minnesota’s infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said families must consider whether they can provide the specialized care that professional facilities do. Plus, "it's not a short-term situation. It's not, 'Well, if we could just take mom or dad home for the weekend, that would make a big difference.' This is months and months ," she said. Another reason: moving someone from a long-term care facility can be dangerous and disruptive to their health.
Minnesota House Republicans are playing politics with the coronavirus. This session is supposed to be a bonding bill year, one in which the Legislature passes a package of bills funding infrastructure projects. However, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt said his GOP peers would block the bills unless Walz ends the emergency powers he's using to close schools and businesses to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ending the emergency early would be "reckless," said DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “It's disappointing to see the minority leader threaten to block much-needed investments in local jobs and projects in our communities,” she said. “Governor Walz and his administration have served the people of Minnesota well during this crisis, and his thoughtfulness is why Minnesotans overwhelmingly approve of his actions.” A Walz spokesperson said the governor is working across the aisle in responding to the coronavirus.
We still want your stories of good amid the pandemic. Share your story of how someone has helped you or someone you know through this difficult time.
