Walz hits the brakes on Minnesota social life as COVID-19 rages
Good morning.
A cold front is pushing its way across northern Minnesota making roads slick this morning. Southern Minnesota stays in the warmer air most of the day and makes it into the 50s again. Highs in the mid-30s to mid-40s in the north, and upper 40s to upper 50s in the south. The Twin Cities may see highs in the lower 50s with temperatures dropping to lower 50s in the afternoon. Most of the state can expect partly cloudy skies Find out more from Updraft.
Organized sports for youth and adults are on hold. Collegiate athletics and professional sports can continue but with new spectator limits. Places of worship and child care can stay open with the proper precautions in place.
“We’re at a dangerous point in this pandemic,” Walz told Minnesotans in his address announcing the new restrictions. “How we act, and how this virus moves, will have huge implications on the number of people who will be hospitalized and, ultimately, those who will lose their lives.”
Hospitalizations continue to climb steeply, with the seven-day new admissions trend hitting a record. About 1,700 people are in Minnesota hospitals now because of COVID-19 with 355 needing intensive care, according to the latest update. The numbers have leaped since Nov. 1.
Longtime Iron Range Sens. Tom Bakk and David Tomassoni said in a written statement that they’ll exit the DFL caucus to start a caucus for moderate-minded lawmakers. For now it includes only the two of them.
Their departure from the DFL gives Republicans a bit more breathing room heading into a session where they were facing a single-seat majority. Now, it’ll be 34 Republicans, 31 DFLers and the two independents.
