Politics & Government
Coronavirus: Gov. Tim Walz To Announce New Measures Tuesday
The announcement will come as the state sees a spike in COVID-19 virus cases and deaths.
TWIN CITIES, MN — Gov. Tim Walz Tuesday will discuss the "next steps" in Minnesota's response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The announcement will come as the state sees a spike in virus cases and deaths.
The Minnesota Department of Health on Monday reported 19 COVID-19 deaths and 3,930 new cases. A total of 2,675 Minnesotans have died from the virus since March.
Dr. Saugar Maripuri, a nephrologist for Hennepin Healthcare, is among those in the medical field asking Walz to place new restrictions on public gatherings. Maripuri says the state is at a "tipping point" for hospital capacity.
Find out what's happening in Southwest Minneapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Please shut down the bars, gyms, rec centers, public ice rinks, and stop indoor dining. We need strict limits on gathering size. Please consider halting high school sports when schools are in distance learning.
— Saugar Maripuri, MD MPH (@saugarmaripuri) November 7, 2020
It's not clear how drastic or wide-ranging any new restrictions from the governor's office will be.
Walz Monday called on all Minnesotas to get tested for COVID-19 as the state opened more facilities.
Find out what's happening in Southwest Minneapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today we announced a significant expansion of COVID-19 testing in Minnesota. As we see new highs in nearly all the metrics we use to track the virus, I encourage everyone to get a test. The new sites are free and open to anyone, whether or not you have symptoms or insurance.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) November 9, 2020
Walz will address the state live at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Patch will carry a livestream of the speech.
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