Good morning and welcome to a new week. Cold temperatures today remind us that it's December in Minnesota after all. Highs today will range from single digits above zero in far northern Minnesota to the lower 20s in the far south. A cold, breezy morning will bring single-digit wind chills across the state. Find the latest from Updraft. The U.S. is expected to send out 2.9 million doses of its first COVID-19 vaccine this week. Here's what we know about the Pfizer vaccine and the U.S.' distribution plan. Some mild to moderate side effects are common — mostly swelling, pain, redness, fatigue and sometimes a fever, but an FDA analysis found "no specific safety concerns" for people aged 16 and older that would preclude the vaccine's use. The CDC has endorsed a plan to prioritize health care workers and long-term care residents, and states will likely to go along with the CDC recommendation. Read this to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccination in the U.S. 'Restaurants are kind of singled out': With Walz's restrictions on indoor dining set to expire this week, Minnesota restauranteurs are looking for help. Many bars and restaurants are struggling to stay in business amid the pandemic and Minnesota’s latest clamp down on the hospitality industry is making it even more difficult for them. The state Legislature convenes for a special session today where lawmakers possibly take up a COVID-19 relief bill for businesses and workers. In Woodbury, Mike Miller, owner of Lake Tavern & Grill, says the last eight months have been "quite the ride ... What we’ve tried to do is mostly minimize the damage but it is damaging." December's record pace of COVID-19 deaths continued over the weekend: 152 more deaths. The grim number of deaths over the weekend pushes the overall pandemic death toll in the state to 4,444. Over the past week, Minnesota has been averaging nearly 66 COVID-19 deaths each day — the highest on record.
Here are Minnesota’s current COVID-19 statistics:- 4,444 deaths (85 new)
- 378,823 positive cases (3,439 newly reported); 341,530 off isolation (about 90 percent)
- 4.89 million tests, 2.76 million people tested (about 48 percent of the population)
- 8.9 percent seven-day positive test rate (officials find 5 percent or more concerning)
Lights on dashboard, menorahs on car roof: Here's how some Minnesotans celebrate Hanukkah this year. Mount Zion Temple organized a Hanukkah car parade on Summit Avenue in St. Paul on Sunday to spread some light, and joy, and hope this holiday season. See photos from the celebration here.
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— Jiwon Choi, MPR News | 
