The Department of Health Tuesday reports nearly 12,500 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus and 614 deaths, an increase of 23.
Here is a roundup of topics from Tuesday’s media briefing call with MDH:
- We could know as soon as Wednesday if the current stay at home order will be lifted or extended. It’s set to expire Sunday at midnight.
Governor Walz has missed the last two days of media updates as the team prepares for the upcoming announcement. So far there’s been no indication of the direction, except that officials are still emphasizing physical distancing and wearing masks.
“More interactions in the community, more contacts among people, it’s quite natural to expect that with as little exposure we think the population has had so far to the disease, to the pathogen, that we will see increased cases as that happens,” Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. “Our whole goal is to make sure that happens in a way that is measured and that the health care system is prepared to respond to.”
The state’s latest mathematical data model version 3.0 is also expected to be made public “soon.”
- A day after saying health officials don’t see any imminent closures to Minnesota food processing plants in the "near term," two rural counties with them are seeing an increase in cases.
Kandiyohi County in western Minnesota has one of the highest per capita rates in Minnesota with 367 cases. Neighbor Chippewa County has gone from two as of May 1 to 21 Tuesday.
It’s not as steep as the influx seen around processing plants in Nobles and Stearns Counties, but there is targeted testing occurring in Chippewa and Kandiyohi to try and put out a hotspot before it spreads…
“We start to see cases in those areas where there’s more testing done, so yes, we do find more cases,” State infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann said. “We can expect that we will continue to see cases. What’s important is the cases are being identified and they know that they’re positive and they can take action to isolate themselves.”
Ehresmann says most plants are testing the entire workforce, but they’re recommending aggressive and robust screening of workers before they enter.
- It will take up to weeks to fully implement Minnesota’s “battle plan” to address cases at long term care facilities.
Rolled out last Thursday, it includes facility-wide testing with a confirmed case, plans for bridge staffing, and PPE procurement.
“That takes some time,” Malcolm said, adding it’s a “complex process.” “It’s unfortunately not something we can flip a switch and have the plan be fully implemented everywhere in the state immediately. It is a high priority, not only for MDH but for our partners at the state emergency operations center.”
- MDH is closely monitoring a mysterious inflammatory disease in children believed to be connected to Covid-19. Ehresmann says, though, that it is “rare.” New York officials are making it a focus.
