The Minnesota Department of Health Friday reports the state’s second-highest single-day fatalities with 94 deaths related to COVID-19.
There are multiple reports that Wednesday is the day Gov. Tim Walz will announce the future of the state’s pause on gyms, youth sports and in-person dining.
Walz Friday said more time is needed to gather data, which is why an update was pushed to the middle of next week. The current four-week shutdown is slated to expire Dec. 18.
“It looks like behavior’s changed, whether it’s because of the mitigation or because the numbers were spiking, it doesn’t really matter,” Walz said. “It looks like there was an impact there. We have another week to see what that impact is.”
Minnesota averaged about 4,600 cases per day and the positivity rate decreased under 10 percent; however Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said even with the improvement, the state is still “in a very, very vulnerable place,.” She added that from an epidemiological perspective 10 positive cases per 100,000 residents is considered “the sign of an out of control virus.” Minnesota is at 85 cases per 100,000 people, which is down from nearly 120 three weeks ago.
Malcolm also said it’s too early to say what the effects of Thanksgiving are because it takes a full four weeks to determine the scope of an event.
“I think the governor’s wise to wait for as much data as he can get,” Malcolm said. “We have all gotten used to these high numbers and we are very grateful that the increases have slowed and come down a bit. It boggles my mind to think that 3,000 cases in a day feels like a good number.”
Meanwhile, Walz said he’s hopeful the legislature will agree to a relief package Monday during a special session with a year-end goal of sending out benefits. He declined to say if he would sign one without a 13-week extension for unemployment insurance.
“I'm not speculating at this, but I’ll just say I don’t know how you would go home not providing aid to those folks,” Walz said. “It’s not the Minnesota legislature’s fault regardless of political ideology on this. It is the federal government’s fault because they have not extended that. You can’t just wish away the pandemic.”
With a decision looming, Walz continues to face lawsuits related to executive order 20-99.
“I respect people’s rights,” Walz said. “They’re bringing this up because they’re hurting. I would just ask…I’m trying to balance that against the stories you just heard her (about stresses on the healthcare system and workers). I’m trying to balance that against how many hospital beds are full. I’m trying to balance that against the 94 deaths. And I’m trying to balance that against the science of can you put 25 percent (capacity) into a restaurant and not see numbers go up? Because if the answer is yes you should do it.”
He’s faced defiance, too. Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office announced Friday a Polk County District Court granted the office’s motion for a temporary restraining order against an East Grand Forks restaurant for remaining open for indoor-dining.
