Aug. 10, 2020
We got a month's worth of rain from Sunday's storm. The heaviest rain we saw from Sunday night and early Monday was centered around the southwest area of the Twin Cities, with some communities getting more than 4 inches of rain. That's more than a month's worth in one night. Plus: Baseball sized hail in some towns. More on the Updraft weather blog. The latest on COVID-19 in Minnesota: 625 new cases; hospitalizations rise as officials worry over isolation for long-term care residents. Despite a recent, worrisome rise in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in long-term care operations, officials have become increasingly concerned over reports of despondent residents who in some cases are refusing to eat because of the isolation. “Loneliness, depression, isolation and heartbreak are all safety issues,” Aisha Elmquist, the state’s deputy ombudsman for long-term care, told reporters Monday.
Minnesota released new COVID-19 guidance to allow more visitors in long-term care. After months of strictly limited visitation policies, Minnesota's long-term care facilities will soon be allowed to cautiously open their doors a little wider — but only if they meet strict criteria laid out by the state. The guidance takes into account the latest COVID-19 case numbers in the community, the number of active cases among facility residents, and if staff work at other long-term care homes.
Tuesday’s primary features some intense contests in the first statewide election held during the pandemic. Ready to vote? Here’s everything you need to know about primary election day. We’ve also teamed up with the League of Women Voters Minnesota on a voter guide to let you compare candidates and their positions on key issues in the 2020 election.
-- Matt Mikus | MPR News | 