Good morning and welcome to a new workweek. Here we go ...
It's good Monday to stay inside. A chance of showers throughout the day across the state. Twin Cities highs near 60, but with winds up to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph. Statewide highs from 40s in the north to 60s in the south. More on Updraft. | Forecast
Last year was the wettest on record for the Twin Cities. A late November storm pushed the total for the year to 40.81 inches. It broke the previous record set in 2016 of 40.32 inches of precipitation. Twin Cities records date back to 1884. Earth Day Facts sponsored by Powerfully Green Solar
The latest COVID-19 news
Health authorities are tracking COVID-19 outbreaks across Minnesota and in surrounding states. Sunday marked the third consecutive day with at least 140 new coronavirus cases in Minnesota.
Here are the latest coronavirus statistics: 2,356 cases via 45,716 tests -
134 deaths 574 cases requiring hospitalization 228 people remain hospitalized; 116 in intensive care 1,160 people hospitalized
One outbreaks centers around the JBS pork processing plant in Worthington. As of Saturday, at least 20 employees of the southwestern Minnesota plant had tested positive for COVID-19 with at least 18 more cases in the area. Union officials have called on the company to slow production so employees can keep a greater distance from each other, but so far JBS has just taken some additional safety measures like installing barriers on the production line and taking workers temperatures before shifts. "We're going to be able to keep this plant running ... I'm hopeful," Worthington Mayor Mike Kuhle said. “I'm praying to God that we can make this happen. But, at the end of the day, we have to be mindful of the health of all our residents."
A massive outbreak continues less than an hour away in Sioux Falls, S.D. More than 600 workers have tested positive at the border city's Smithfield pork processing plant, which has closed indefinitely.
In Wayzata, there's an outbreak at an assisted living facility. More than 40 residents of Meridian Manor had to be moved to other facilities over the weekend after 18 of 55 people living there tested positive for COVID-19. One resident has died and staff members were affected, too.
More than 80 congregate care facilities have at least one COVID-19 case. Such infections make up 26 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state, according to the Health Department.
The U.S.-Canada border is closed for another 30 days. Only essential travel will be allowed, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the restriction will almost certainly last even longer than another month.
— Cody Nelson, MPR News | @codyleenelson
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