Good morning. Get ready central and northeast Minnesota. It’s your turn for snow again. Our next October storm brings snow and a wintry mix to Minnesota Thursday. Check out Updraft for more weather coverage.
Wednesday’s COVID-19 data offered a grim reminder of the pandemic’s ongoing toll in Minnesota.
The Health Department reported 35 deaths, matching a single-day record from May. Hospital admissions continue to climb. Minnesota’s seven-day trend of newly reported hospital admissions also set a record high, averaging 80 a day over the last week.
“Imagine the heartbreak that is behind each one of those deaths," Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm told reporters.
Officials were saddened and alarmed but not surprised by the numbers, she said. The surge in cases has led to a surge in hospitalizations and more deaths, and Minnesota must brace itself for more unless more Minnesotans take steps to stem the spread of the disease, she said.
Here are Minnesota’s current COVID-19 statistics:
2,246 deaths (35 new)125,531 positive cases (1,082 new), 111,634 off isolation2,543,648 tests, 1,699,949 people tested6.3 percent seven-day positive test rateIn March, Hennepin County moved people — especially those most vulnerable to the worst effects of COVID-19 — from congregate shelters into private rooms in five hotels. The plan was to reduce crowding and curb transmission of the coronavirus. But there was another benefit. According to county officials working to end homelessness, 56 people have moved into permanent housing since the start of the hotel efforts. MPR News reporter Faye Williams has more..
In national politics: Senate Democrats say they plan to boycott Thursday's scheduled vote on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham rejected the Democratic assertion that at least two minority members were needed to proceed with the nomination. "I will move forward," he said Wednesday evening. "She deserves a vote."
In a subsequent statement, Graham called the Democratic decision to boycott the vote "a choice they are making. I believe it does a disservice to Judge Barrett who deserves a vote, up or down."
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said the U.S. intelligence community believes Iranian and Russian operatives have obtained voter record information that enabled them to target some people with intimidating emails based on party registration about how they'd better vote for President Trump "or else."
Ratcliffe sought to reassure Americans about the integrity of their actual votes, and the process by which the election is run. "These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries," Ratcliffe said, but pledged confidence in American elections and said "you can be confident your votes are secured."
And regarding the election, the final debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is set for Thursday at 8 p.m. MPR news will air the debate, and you can follow live updates at mprnews.org.
— Matt Mikus, MPR News |
