Walker Orenstein reports on the state Legislature for MinnPost, with a particular focus on covering issues affecting Greater Minnesota. He can be reached at worenstein@minnpost.com, and you can follow him on Twitter at @walkerorenstein.
Thirteen of the 20 people who died were residents of long-term care facilities. So far, 968 of the 1,217 people who have died of COVID-19 in Minnesota were residents of such facilities
There have now been a total of 27,886 confirmed cases and 1,186 deaths from COVID-19 in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Health had previously not disclosed the number of known cases and deaths at individual facilities, citing patient privacy. But it reversed course Friday after Republican Sen. Karin Housley threatened to subpoena the department for the data.
Walz’s latest order goes further in easing rules aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 than state officials had previously predicted.
In a letter to the agency, state Sen. Karin Housley said the Senate’s Family Care and Aging Committee, which Housley chairs, has tried to learn more from the Minnesota Department of Health about the spread of COVID-19 in the state’s long-term care facilities, to little avail.
A total of 1,115 Minnesotans have now died from COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health said Thursday. MDH also said Thursday there have been 26,273 total confirmed cases.
MDH also said Wednesday there have been 25,870 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota, up 362 from Tuesday’s count.
A group of DFL lawmakers are now calling for the special session to focus on police reform, helping black communities and funding recovery projects for Minneapolis businesses.
Even as coronavirus continues to ravage those living in long-term care facilities in Minnesota, the Department of Health has refused to reveal the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths at each facility.
MDH also said Monday there have been 25,208 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota, up 358 from Sunday’s count.
Among other things, Gov. Tim Walz thinks the three other former Minneapolis Police officers involved in the Floyd case should also be charged with crimes. And that he appreciated a call from Jay-Z.
The Minnesota Department of Health also said Saturday there have been 24,190 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota, up 659 from Friday’s count.
Walz said he now believes that much of the violence is being fanned by well-organized groups trained in urban warfare, while his public safety commissioner says there’s evidence that right-wing extremists and white supremacists have organized efforts to foster unrest.
Led by Attorney General Keith Ellison, the task force offered an extensive set of recommendations for how to prevent law enforcement from using deadly force on civilians — and how best to respond when police do kill people.
MDH also said Friday there have been 23,531 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota, up 584 from Thursday’s count.
The health commissioner also specifically addressed those protesting the death of George Floyd, encouraging social distancing and the use of face masks.
The Minnesota Department of Health also said Wednesday there have been 22,464 total confirmed cases of COVID-19, up 504 from Tuesday’s count, while a total of 216,532 COVID-19 tests have been completed, up 7,000 from Wednesday.
State government, county officials and nonprofit organizations have seen a significant increase in people needing help paying for food, housing and other daily costs.
Walz and his commissioners have offered different explanations for new rules affecting restaurants and salons, part of the state’s latest effort to open the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minnesota Department of Health also reported Monday that another 12 people have died of COVID-19, for a total of 881 so far.
