Good morning and happy Sunday. Here’s the forecast and your COVID-19 briefing.
Showers and thunderstorms. Rain, with a thunderstorm possible this afternoon and into the evening in the Twin Cities. A chance of a severe storm. High 78. Winds: SE 8-16 mph, higher gusts near storms. Much the same across the state. More on Updraft | Forecast Religious services, including wedding and funerals, can resume at 25 percent occupancy. Gov. Tim Walz announced the new guidelines Saturday, while continuing to implore Minnesotans to follow public health recommendations, saying the state has yet to see the peak of COVID-19 cases. "Going to see some pretty rough weeks when we head to that peak, no matter what we do,'' Walz said Saturday -- the same day the state saw its greatest single-day jump in COVID-19 cases at 847. That brought the statewide total to 19,845. Here are the latest coronavirus statistics as of Saturday: 19,845 confirmed cases via 189,493 tests 852 deaths 2,432 cases requiring hospitalization 568 people remain hospitalized; 215 in intensive care 13,485 patients no longer needing isolation Still no graduation ceremonies, wedding receptions. While the maximum event gathering size is 250 people for both indoor and outdoor services, it does not include “related celebrations or social gatherings,” according to the guidelines. Walz said the “250 number terrifies me,” but added the number and occupancy limits came after many conversations with faith leaders.
Bars and restaurants remain off-limits to indoor seating. The order does not affect the restrictions on bars and restaurants, which only have been allowed to offer curbside pickup, delivery and outside seating. “I say to the Minnesotans who find the contradictions maddening, so do I," Walz said, noting that the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines issued Friday only apply to places of worship.
Crowds line up for free COVID-19 testing across Minnesota. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said she was pleased to see crowds at six sites for testing Saturday: “I know that people are waiting in lines and there's an awful lot of demand there — and we're learning a lot from today's events that will help us to be even better at getting testing out into the community." Testing continues today and Monday at National Guard armories in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Moorhead, St. James and Faribault.
We know you are ready to get outside and see your family and friends. So are we. Here are how experts rate the risks of 14 summer activities. And, now that the stay-at-home order has loosened to the so-called stay safe order, here are more things to consider in your social interactions. And finally, most Minnesotans support stay-at-home measures, but the state is divided. According to a new MPR News/Star Tribune/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll, Minnesota voters support the restrictions on everyday life the state imposed to try to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. But a solid minority feels the state has gone too far.
— Chris Graves, MPR News | @chrisgraves | 