Tighter restrictions go into effect as state sets daily records in COVID-19 cases, deaths
By David Pierini, staff reporter
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ordered new restrictions for the next month, affecting restaurants, sports and family gatherings, to stanch what seems to have become an almost uncontrollable community spread of COVID-19.
The orders shutdown dine-in service at bars and restaurants, though take-out service can continue. Walz also ordered the closure of fitness centers, theaters, museums and bowling alleys. The orders also suspend all youth and adult sports.
The restrictions take effect Friday at midnight and run through Dec. 18.
“Just in the last two and a half weeks, we’ve been talking about the ground literally shifting under our feet,” Walz said.
Walz and his public health team had warned of tougher restrictions ahead with the number of daily cases continually topping the previous day’s tally. Tuesday’s case numbers were above 5,000 with hundreds needing hospitalization and more than 500 deaths this month alone. Health officials reported 67 more deaths Wednesday.
The governor placed a limit on group gatherings to individual households. The prior restriction placed a cap of 10 people from three households.
During the start of the pandemic signs such as this one were common throughout Minneapolis. With the latest set of restrictions many businesses will again be shuttered in efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19. Photo by David Pierini
He also advised against families holding receptions after weddings or funerals and suggested avoiding out-of-state travel. Barbershops, hair salons, retails stores and places of worship can remain open with limited capacity. Walz said the data shows those places as being low risk because of mask wearing and time limits.
“The bright spot of this is the moves we take now will start to bend back the numbers at just the time with the potential for a vaccine is coming,” Walz said. “I believe with every fiber of my being that there is an incredibly strong possibility more like a probability that we will be vaccinating people before the end of this four week pause in our long term care facilities, and our frontline health care providers and Minnesota is ready to go through and roll out that vaccine plan to the rest of us.
“We can do this, Minnesota, we can get this right, we can save lives.”
Walz said that at the start of the pandemic, it took Minnesota 29 weeks for the number of COVID cases to reach 100,000. The next 100,000 occurred in just six weeks and, he said, the data shows the next 100,000 could happen over the next three weeks.
He said the surge has put considerable strain on the state’s health care resources, not only filling critical care beds but striking the very staff providing the care. Alarming to Walz, is that reports show those health care workers are contracting the virus, not at work, but in their communities.
“Somebody has to be there, and they are getting sick, they being the healthcare providers getting sick at incredible rates, and they're not getting sick at their hospitals, they're getting sick in their communities, and community spread,” Walz said.
In a call a day prior to the governor’s Nov. 18 announcement, Minnesota Health Commissioner Jam Malcolm echoed Walz’ concerns.
“In all of July we had 5,000 COVID cases and now I fear we’ll have 10,000 cases in one day,” said Malcolm. “In regard to health care workers in one day we had 6,100 workers not at work because of health related reasons; either sick themselves , exposed to COVID or caring for someone who is sick.”
Malcolm urged Minnesotans 18-35 years of age -- the group with the highest rate of COVID positivity -- to proactively test even if they are not experiencing symptoms.
“It’s those with mild symptoms or no symptoms who are contributing to the rapid spread,” said Malcolm.
DFL State Rep. Fue Lee, whose 59A district includes half of North Minneapolis, applauded the new restriction.
Lee was among the first lawmakers to share the story of his battle with COVID-19, which infected 20 of his relatives in August. Lee has used his story to combat skeptical Republicans trying to limit the restrictions.
"It's time for everybody to listen to doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who are tirelessly doing everything they can to keep people safe,” Lee said. “Cases, hospitalizations, and the number of people admitted to critical care beds are surging, and too many people have died.
“All along, Governor Walz has had to make difficult decisions, and they are hard for Minnesotans too. But these measures will put us in a better position to protect Minnesotans and get a handle on the virus.”
On the day Walz announced the tightened restrictions, Minnesota reported 5,102 new cases with 67 deaths. Overall, as of Nov. 18 Minnesota has seen 242,043 COVID-19 cases, 3,010 resulting in death.