Minnesota’s COVID-19 case count jumped to 115 as 26 new infections were detected by testing labs.
Gov. Tim Walz foreshadowed the increase earlier Friday in a radio interview where he said that that coronavirus case “numbers are going to jump way up.”
“That is going to be an accelerating pace,” Walz said in an interview on WCCO Radio. “This has followed the same pattern in other countries, the only difference is how countries responded.”
Minnesota’s response has included temporarily closing schools, restaurants, theaters and other nonessential businesses, a move intended to slow the spread of infections and discourage Minnesotans from gathering in groups. Walz reiterated that a shelter-in-place order is one potential option the state will consider moving forward.
“If it comes to that, and it is my best judgment that is what protects Minnesotans, we will go to that,” he said. “As I am speaking to you right now, that is not the situation I believe we are at, but I do think those that are doing it in California are seeing data for their particular situation and that’s the right situation.”
Additional state measures to lessen financial strain caused by the pandemic are also coming. The governor said Minnesota will follow the federal government’s lead and push back the state tax filing date.
“My anticipation is there will be more of those actions,” he said.
State health officials have said all week that there are more cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota than the official tally indicates. The state lab is giving highest testing priority to hospital patients, health care workers and people in long-term care facilities.
“We really believe that there is widespread community transmission of COVID throughout the state,” said Kris Ehresmann, MDH infectious disease director, including cases that have not been confirmed by a test.
In the past two days, cases have been identified in five more counties, including Chisago, Clay, Filmore, Mower and Rice. Ehresmann said that people should not assume that COVID-19 is not in their county just because a case has not yet been identified.
On Thursday, Walz ordered hospitals to postpone elective surgeries because of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, a move that is designed to conserve resources as well as protect patients and caregivers. Walz said Friday that officials are also exploring the possibility of having retired doctors and health care workers come back to alleviate staffing pressures.
“People know that the real threat with this is the overwhelming of the system, which means when people get sick there will not be a bed, there will not be a ventilator and there might not be a doctor,” he said.
Some health care systems, including the four largest in the state, have already begun pulling back on elective surgeries. Earlier this week, the Minnesota Hospital Association asked the governor to issue an order to make the practice standard across the state.
“We want to make sure that everybody that uses masks and gloves and personal protective equipment takes action now in a coordinated manner,” said Dr. Rahul Koranne, chief executive of the hospital group. “This is something that needed to be done.”
Although four people are hospitalized, including one in critical condition, 24 people have recovered, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
There were also more people who made a trip to the doctor last week with symptoms of fever and upper respiratory illness, a possible sign that COVID-19 concerns are affecting clinics more, according to indicators that the Health Department uses to track the seasonal flu.
With the new coronavirus circulating, hospital officials say they want to prepare for a possible surge of COVID-19 patients. In the WCCO interview Friday, Walz thanked Minnesotans for patience and perseverance as they navigate one of the most confusing and disrupting weeks many have ever seen.
“We’re in this for the long haul,” he said. “We’re into the first week here and buckling down and we’ll continue forward together.”
Glenn.Howatt@startribune.com
Torey.VanOot@startribune.com
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March 20, 2020 at 11:07PM
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Minnesota coronavirus case numbers jump - Minneapolis Star Tribune
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