Good morning. Our mild weather streak continues! Thursday is expected to bring highs above the 40 degree-mark across southern Minnesota, with 30s north of the Twin Cities. Find out more from Updraft.
About one-third of all recent deaths in Minnesota are tied to COVID-19. The toll in October and November make it clear this has been nothing like a common flu.
Over the past few years, respiratory illnesses have been a major contributing factor in about 5 to 10 percent of all deaths in Minnesota, depending on the time of year.
This year, they accounted for around 20 percent of deaths during the state’s May COVID-19 wave. Now it’s even higher: nearly 40 percent of all deaths in Minnesota in recent weeks have been attributed to a respiratory illness such as COVID-19, influenza or pneumonia.
Here are Minnesota’s current COVID-19 statistics:
- 3,692 deaths (77 new)
- 327,477 positive cases, 286,217 off isolation (5,192 new)
- 4.3 million tests, 2.6 million people tested (about 45 percent of the population)
- 11.4 percent seven-day positive test rate (officials find 5 percent or more concerning)
The 77 new deaths reported Wednesday marks the second-highest daily toll reported in the pandemic. Officials expect another wave of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in coming weeks originating from Thanksgiving gatherings.
Minnesota Court of Appeals: High schoolers who lost work because of the pandemic are eligible for pandemic unemployment assistance.
Following months of effort by students and local non-profit Youthprise, the appeals court overturned an unemployment judge's ruling that some qualified high school students are ineligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through the current CARES Act.
KARE 11 reports: "Youthprise is now working to help other qualified students sign up to receive any federal assistance they might have missed. Students looking to apply can get help online, but they need to do so by Dec. 25. But the pandemic assistance is paid retroactively."
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-- Sara Porter, MPR News | 
