- Another 20 Minnesota died from COVID-19, bringing the total to 578.
- More than 110,000 tests have been completed
- Total number of positive cases in Minnesota up to 11,271
- Hennepin County surpasses 3,500 confirmed cases
Sunday, May 10
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is reporting 11,271 positive cases of the coronavirus across the state since the first case was reported in early March, an increase of 481 additional cases from the previous day.
State health officials say another 20 Minnesotans have died from COVID-19, bringing the total number to 578 deaths statewide. MDH says the majority of those deaths, 464, have been among cases in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
MDH says 4,825 additional test have been completed to bring the state total to 111,088 tests that have been completed by the state or an outside lab.
Officials say 6,882 confirmed cases have now recovered to the point of no longer needing isolation.
The state reports 22% of the current cases involved exposure in a congregate living setting, with 15% of cases resulting from known contact with another COVID-19 case.
Hennepin County continues to report the highest number of confirmed cases in the state, at 3,558. Stearns County has the second highest total at 1,405, and Nobles County has the third most with 1,255.
Saturday, May 9
11 a.m.
The latest daily figures reported by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) show 10,790 Minnesotans have tested positive for coronavirus since the first case was reported in early March; that includes 702 additional cases in the past day.
The report shows another 24 Minnesotans have died from COVID-19, bringing the total to 558 deaths. MDH says the majority of those deaths, 449, have been among cases in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
MDH says 106,263 tests have been completed by the state or an outside lab, including 4,993 tests in the past day.
A total of 6,322 confirmed cases have now recovered to the point of no longer needing isolation.
The state reports 23% of the current cases involved exposure in a congregate living setting, with 15% of cases resulting from known contact with another COVID-19 case.
Hennepin County continues to report the highest number of confirmed cases in the state, at 3,379. Stearns County has the second highest total at 1,348, followed by Nobles County at 1,230.
Friday, May 8
2 p.m.
In the state's daily coronavirus briefing with reporters, Gov. Tim Walz acknowledged two new milestones in the pandemic for Minnesota: more than 10,000 confirmed cases, and more than 100,000 tests completed.
"These grim milestones are just a reminder that we're still in the thick of this fight," Walz said.
Walz is calling on the Minnesota legislature to extend the state's COVID-19 fund to provide resources and maintain state government operations. Walz signed the original $200 million measure in March.
According to a press release from the governor's office, nearly $135 million from the fund has been used to buy tests and testing materials, procure personal protective equipment and hospital equipment, and prepare an alternate care site in the event of a surge in hospitalizations. The governor's office says about $65 million remains in the fund, which is set to expire on Monday, May 11.
The fund allows the Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget to authorize $1 million or less in expenditures with approval from the Health Commissioner and Governor's Chief of Staff, but requests larger than $1 million need to be reviewed by the Legislative COVID-19 Response Commission, which includes DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka.
In the daily briefing, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm announced Minnesota is expected to receive shipments of the drug remdesivir from the federal government soon. The drug has shown potential in speeding the recovery time for people hospitalized with COVID-19.
RELATED: VERIFY: What is remdesivir?
Also in the briefing, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan addressed the disproportionately higher rates of illness for African Americans and Latinx communities in the country and in Minnesota.
"We cannot allow these communities to remain invisible as we consider our response to the recovery efforts," Flanagan said.
Governor Walz also addressed the Education Department's guidance released Friday for virtual graduation ceremonies.
"This pains me like all of these decisions do. We're certainly not trying to do 'one size fits all' ... but I need to listen to the health experts on this," Walz said. "We are trying our best to make sure we are striking that proper balance between public health and these important social milestones."
"The focus really has to be on minimizing contact outside of our immediate households right now," said Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. "Even though folks have the argument they can do social distancing on the field or stadium ... there are challenges around going in and coming out ... it's the reality of an emotional time when people are going to want to celebrate, and we understand that, and we know how painful it is not to be able to do that. We talk in terms of the predictability of a situation and how certain one can be that social distancing can be retained, and in this case, painful as it is, this does not seem like a situation that would lend itself to good adherence to social distancing."
In addition, Malcolm also address the next run of modeling for COVID-19 cases in Minnesota, saying she expects to have a new model to bring to the governor next week.
Malcolm also addressed testing numbers; while the state has a testing capacity around 10,000, daily testing figures have remained below 5,000 in recent days.
"Providers are telling us people aren't coming in ... because they got the message earlier that testing wasn't available ... we need to do better, have a stronger campaign to make sure that people know they can and should be getting tested if they have symptoms."
On extending the Stay at Home order past May 18, Gov. Walz said it's a question they're considering daily.
"Just opening back up again is no guarantee that customers will be there," Walz said, noting that he'd like to allow bars and restaurants to reopen, but the state needs more testing and contact tracing. "If you open up and it becomes clear that people got sick being there, it's every bit as damaging as a Stay at Home order. We can't get it wrong."
11 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reports Minnesota has surpassed 10,000 positive cases of COVID-19 and 100,000 completed tests.
The latest daily figures reported by MDH show 10,088 Minnesotans have tested positive for coronavirus since the first case was reported in early March; that includes 723 additional cases in the past day.
The report shows another 26 Minnesotans have died from COVID-19, bringing the total to 534 deaths. MDH says the majority of those deaths, 434, have been among cases in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
MDH says 101,270 tests have been completed by the state or an outside lab, including 3,849 tests in the past day.
A total of 5,697 confirmed cases have now recovered to the point of no longer needing isolation.
The state reports 23% of the current cases involved exposure in a congregate living setting, with 15% of cases resulting from known contact with another COVID-19 case.
Hennepin County continues to report the highest number of confirmed cases in the state, at 3,153. Stearns County has the second highest total at 1,274, followed by Nobles County at 1,177.
9 a.m.
The Minnesota Department of Education, Office of Higher Education, and Minnesota Department of Health have released new guidance for schools on conducting graduation ceremonies amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The three departments are recommending virtual commencement ceremonies where possible, ensuring that graduates and their families do not have to leave their homes.
Thursday, May 7
2 p.m.
Gov. Tim Walz and state officials revealed a new five-point "battle plan" Thursday for protecting Minnesotans living in long-term care facilities.
The plan calls for:
- Expanding testing for residents and facility workers
- Providing on-site testing support and troubleshooting
- Providing personal protective equipment for facilities
- Ensuring adequate staffing levels
- Leveraging partnerships with state agencies, as well as local and regional public health organizations to reduce transmission and limit exposure
According to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), 15% of the state's confirmed COVID-19 cases have occurred in long-term care or assisted living facility; 25% of the state's confirmed cases involved exposure for staff or residents in a congregate living setting. MDH said 407 of the state's 508 recorded COVID-19 deaths occurred in cases at long-term care or assisted living facilities.
MDH commissioner Jan Malcolm said the virus is not hitting long-term care facilities equally, noting that only 1 in 5 long-term care facilities and 1 in 10 assisted living facilities have at least one confirmed COVID-19 case.
On testing, Malcolm said the department will issue new guidance on testing and screening at long-term care facilities. That guidance will include consistent "active screening" practices for staff and residents. Testing will be expanded to all symptomatic residents and staff; and in a major shift in state policy, facility-wide testing will be required when a case is confirmed or multiple people develop symptoms.
The state will also begin working with health systems to set up "strike teams" that can quickly conduct on-site testing at long-term care facilities.
Under the plan, the state will maintain and manage a cache of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for long-term facilities to use in an emergency when a facility uses up its own supplies and is not able to restock. The state will ensure that needed equipment is delivered to facilities dealing with outbreaks, and will provide to other facilities based on availability.
The plan calls for several strategies for staffing support at facilities facing outbreaks, which includes using COVID-19 federal funding to build a team of health care workers who can provide temporary staffing when needed. The state would also use databases to contact health care workers for on-call shifts, and use incentives "to encourage health care systems to provide crisis staffing to facilities," according to the plan.
Meeting those staffing needs could also include activation of the Minnesota National Guard, under the state's updated plan.
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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.
There is also a data portal online at mn.gov/covid19.