COVID-19 cases in Minnesota reach 789; deaths reach 22

Another four people have died from COVID-19 as of Friday, bringing the total number of deaths in the state to 22, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

The total number of Minnesotans who tested positive for COVID-19 has reached 789, an increase of 47. Of those cases, 156 have required hospitalization. Eighty-six were hospitalized as of Friday and 40 were in intensive care, according to MDH.

Eighty-two percent of confirmed cases live in a private residence, but three of the four most recent deaths were residents of long-term care facilities, Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said: an 88-year-old Hennepin County resident, a 90-year-old Olmsted County resident and an 86-year-old Scott County resident. The fourth person who died was a 60-year-old from Chisago County who was not in a long-term care facility but did have significant underlying health conditions.

No new congregate care facilities reported COVID-19 cases Friday; there are still 47 long-term care facilities reporting cases, and congregate care facilities remain an "intense focus" for the Department of Health, Malcolm said.

Cases confirmed in prisons as system adapts to deal with virus

What does a stay-at-home order look like in a place where you can't leave?

Correctional facility wardens are implementing the "prison version" of the stay-at-home executive order, Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell said Friday. It's a plan called "stay with unit," designed to minimize potential spread of the novel coronavirus in correctional facilities where close quarters would allow it to do so quickly.

Seven inmates in Moose Lake have tested positive for COVID-19 and 13 are presumed positive based on their symptoms, Schnell said. One staff member has tested positive at the same facility, and another is presumed positive for COVID-19.

A facility in Red Wing also has two staff who count among the confirmed positive COVID-19 cases.

Theplan minimizes intermingling between different units, which would normally happen during educational programming, meals or work opportunities, Schnell said. It was implemented in Moose Lake this week, but will roll out at all facilities in the system beginning next week.

Furthermore, many facilities have extended the dining period to help maintain a higher level of social distancing, and have allowed those who feel at risk to eat in their cells, Schnell said.

While the Department of Corrections has a long-established pandemic plan, COVID-19 presents new challenges and risks, Schnell said. While 3/4 of the prison population is under 45, a significant portion of those incarcerated have serious underlying medical conditions that potentially put them at higher risk, he said.

The department is taking several other steps, including attempting to maximize prison capacity to provide more options for quarantine and containment, and re-evaluating the release timelines of some people serving sentences for non-violent crimes.

Early release work focuses only on those who are within 90 days of their release, Schnell said. These candidates could include people coming up for supervised release (parole), or those who would be eligible for a work release program.

There is also a provision in Minnesota law for conditional medical release. The Department of Corrections is exploring what this provision may mean in the context of the novel coronavirus, Schnell said.

Alarm bells will sound — for severe weather awareness

On top of the pandemic, Minnesota  is entering flood season, a reality already for some of the state's community.

"We need to be ready for anything, even while we're fighting the virus," Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Joe Kelly said Friday.

Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 13-17, and as of Friday, the statewide tornado drills — complete with sirens and emergency notifications — are still planned, with tornado drills scheduled for April 16.

"We're not immune from future emergencies and disasters just because we have our hands full with this thing," Kelly said.

Who does wearing a mask help?

No new counties reported cases of novel coronavirus Friday. Almost 2/3 of Minnesota's counties have reported cases.

Community transmission is reported as the likely exposure for more than 30% of COVID-19 cases, according to MDH. It is the highest percent of likely exposures in a list that includes known exposure to another case, travel to another state, international travel, a cruise ship and unknown reasons.

Malcolm asked members of the public who choose to wear a mask to wear non-medical-grade masks because they are in high demand for medical professionals and first responders.

"Wearing a non-medical-grade mask is one way to practice source control for COVID," Malcolm said. 

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It is important people know that wearing a mask does not mean you are protecting yourself from catching the novel coronavirus, but that you are protecting others from yourself if you are ill or may be asymptomatic, Malcolm said. She also reminded people that wearing a mask does not mean you are exempt from social distancing and hand-washing recommendations.

"These are the really proven ways to protect yourself," she said of the latter.

Approximately 24,227 tests had been completed in Minnesota, of which approximately 64% were conducted at external laboratories. The remaining tests were completed at the Minnesota Department of Health's public health lab.

More:Watch live at 1 p.m.: Gov. Tim Walz gives updates on Minnesota's coronavirus response

Counties reporting at least one confirmed case of COVID-19 include Anoka, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Martin, Meeker, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Ramsey, Renville, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Traverse, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright and Yellow Medicine.

Sarah Kocher is the business reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-255-8799 or skocher@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahAKocher.

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