ST PAUL, Minn — Tuesday, May 5
- Walz signs order resuming elective surgeries
- State projects multi-billion dollar deficit due to pandemic
- New daily highs in hospitalizations, tests
- Restaurants, hospitality industry sound warning bell
2 p.m.
Governor Tim Walz is signing an executive order which allows elective surgeries to resume.
Beginning next week, healthcare providers who create a plan to keep patients and providers safe can move forward with procedures.
This includes doctors, dentists and veterinarians.
“Executive Order 20-51 will allow hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and clinics — whether veterinary, medical, or dental — to resume many currently delayed procedures,” a release from Walz's office reads.
"Minnesota numbers are still going to increase, but we've changed the calculus on how we approach this with PPE and readiness," Walz said during a press conference.
Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm added that healthcare providers do not have to file their plans for expanding services safely, "but they do need to have them."
Economic conditions have dramatically weakened since February due to the coronavirus, according to officials during a press conference. The GDP, however, is predicted to go back to where it was by mid 2021.
Economic outcomes will depend on the pandemic's course, officials said.
Since mid March, 600,000 Minnesotans have applied for unemployment benefits, which is unprecedented, according to officials. Total wage income is expected to fall 5.9% in the state this year due to the pandemic.
The path of the pandemic is related to consumer confidence, which is currently low. This impacts local business leaving them with an uncertain picture, officials said.
12 p.m.
New projections released by Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years now show a deficit of $2.426 billion due to the coronavirus pandemic. It marks a nearly $4 billion change from the previous forecast released in February, which projected a surplus for the state.
Governor Tim Walz requested the updated economic outlook following the recent Stay at Home order due to the coronavirus pandemic. Walz and other state leaders are expected to address the budget forecast at a 2 p.m. news conference.
11 a.m.
The number of Minnesotans requiring hospitalization for symptoms of COVID-19 continues to grow, reaching another new high Tuesday.
State health officials say 434 patients are currently in the hospital, with 182 of them being treated in the ICU. The total number of those hospitalized Tuesday is 38 patients more than the previous day, and since the pandemic began the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) says 1,350 Minnesotans have been treated in hospitals across the state for complications from the coronavirus.
The number of positive cases registered in the past day also marks a one-day high, with 617 new cases. That brings the total of Minnesotans diagnosed with the virus to 7,851 since the beginning of the pandemic.
Governor Tim Walz and health officials have cautioned Minnesotans not to get alarmed, as the ramp-up of testing across the state virtually guarantees that numbers will grow at a faster rate. Yesterday 2,068 COVID-19 tests were performed in state and private labs, bringing the total of Minnesotans tested to just over 88-thousand.
An additional 27 people lost their lives to COVID-19 yesterday, one less than the previous one-day high. That brings the total number of fatalities to 455. The majority of those deaths, 368, involve residents of long-term or assisted living facilities.
MDH says Minnesotans continue to recover from the virus, as 4,614 people diagnosed have recovered enough to no longer require isolation.
Monday, May 4
2 p.m.
The state is launching an online survey for anyone in Minnesota to share their thoughts on safely reopening the economy at mn.gov/deed/safework.
In his daily press briefing, Gov. Tim Walz shared some of his collaborations with health care organizations, public safety agencies, and members of the business community involving the re-opening of the state's economy.
Walz said the updated budget forecast that he requested is expected to be available Tuesday, showing the changing economic picture for the state due to the coronavirus pandemic. A previous budget forecast showed a surplus for Minnesota, but that was issued earlier in the year, prior to pandemic and Stay at Home order.
Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) commissioner Steve Grove said the state is having regular conversations with leaders in various sectors of the economy, as different industries will require a different approach to re-opening. Those targeted conversations include gyms, retail, restaurants, salons, recreation and others. The state is also having conversations with various industry organizations and labor groups to seek their feedback.
Afro Deli founder Abdi Kahin spoke at the press conference to provide perspective as a small business owner. Kahin said just two of his five restaurants are currently open, but he said the safety of his employees and customers will be an important factor in any decision to fully re-open, and he plans to follow state guidance to do so.
Hospitality Minnesota CEO Liz Rammer also spoke, saying a recent survey showed more than half of hospitality businesses face permanent closure if the current economic situation continues for another two months. Rammer said many of those businesses are ready to re-open now, with the understanding that social distancing and safety guidelines will need to be followed. Hospitality Minnesota is among the organizations working with the state to develop best practices and protocols to safely re-open the economy.
"300,000 jobs hang in the balance," Rammer said. "We need to get this right to bring businesses back to full health."
Gov. Walz said he still does not have an exact date for allowing all businesses in the state to fully re-open, suggesting a more staggered process could be possible involving certain sectors of the economy or geographic regions.
Hospitality businesses said they'll need lead time to prepare to re-open, including time to restock any inventory, as well as bringing back staff and having them trained under the new protocols.
Gov. Walz pushed back on the idea of needing to involve the legislature in his decision-making process, saying quick action is needed now, pointing to the nearly two-year process for the legislature to approve the emergency insulin bill as an example.
Also from the Monday press conference, Gov. Walz announced a new executive order that prevents COVID-19 relief funds from being garnished by debt collectors.
Walz also said a decision on resuming elective surgeries is likely in the coming days.
With the upcoming Mother's Day weekend and fishing opener, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm encouraged Minnesotans to continue to observe social distancing recommendations and to consider fishing closer to home.
11 a.m.
New numbers released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reflect an overall uptick in hospitalizations for those dealing with the impacts of COVID-19.
MDH says 396 people are in the hospital currently, with 166 of them being treated in the ICU. Those numbers reflect comments from Gov. Tim Walz and top state health officials who believe that Minnesota is climbing the curve when it comes to the coronavirus.
In terms of testing, 3,309 tests came back in the past day, with 571 of those postive. That brings the total number of coronavirus cases in Minnesota to 7,234 since the pandemic began. In all, 85,941 tests have been processed by state and private labs.
MDH says 9 people died of complications from the disease, bring the total of fatalities to 428 since the department began compiling statistics in late January. The department says 345 of those deaths occurred in long-term care of assisted living facilities. Those age 70 and older account for 82% of Minnesota's COVID-19 deaths. Those between the ages of 60 and 69 account for another 12%, leaving just 6% of the state's deaths in remaining age groups.
On the upside, MDH says 4,212 people who contracted the virus have recovered enough to no longer require isolation.
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The state of Minnesota has set up a hotline for general questions about coronavirus at 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903, available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.