Good morning and welcome to the weekend!

We cool down a bit today, but it'll still be pretty warm for mid-December in Minnesota. Highs will be in the mid-30s in northwestern Minnesota, to the 40s southeast, with cloudy skies across the state. The latest from Updraft.

Nine months into the pandemic, health care workers in Minnesota and across the country remain exhausted, under incredible pressure. 

“I’m tired,” says Dr. Carolyn McClain, who works in the emergency room at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minn. “It's a marathon and it's just sometimes exhausting to go to work.” The nonstop work and stress is taking a toll on medical workers’ mental and physical health, McClain said, adding that she’s worried it’ll lead to an exodus of providers after the pandemic ends. 

December has been one of the deadliest months in the pandemic, but there are glimmers of hope.

More than 600 deaths have been reported in the first 10 days of December, atop more than 1,100 deaths recorded in November, making it one of the deadliest stretches in the pandemic.

At the same time, new daily caseloads continue to slow after spiking in November and the start of December. 

• 4,198 deaths (89 new)
• 367,218 positive cases (3,523 newly reported); 324,304 off isolation (about 88 percent)
• 4.7 million tests; 2.7 million people tested (about 48 percent of the population)
• 9.8 percent seven-day positive test rate (officials find 5 percent or more concerning)

Speaking of December, Santa is back for the holiday season, with a pandemic twist. 

With surging COVID-19 cases nationwide and new restrictions in place throughout Minnesota to help curb the spread of the disease, Santa’s lap is off limits this year. That has spurred creativity in Santa's workshops through the use of masks, plexiglass and Zoom. Check out the heart warming photos of Santa Sam.