In on-camera briefing @GovTimWalz notes that today was Minnesota's single highest day of deaths and new case infections, but says that it's the trends that matter more.
Walz says the Midwestern+ compact of 7 states will work off common set of principles that align with some of the federal guidelines released Thursday. Each will work on own schedule.
"Those will not look the same in every state and we will not move in lockstep," he says.
"Those will not look the same in every state and we will not move in lockstep," he says.
"Tom, this is for you," Walz says, looking in @thauserkstp direction as he goes into the latest executive order to relax the stay-at-home for golf and other activities.
"You can't spell this out to the T maybe an attorney would like to see because we're talking about getting society to act differently than we ever have and to try to implement some things the medical professionals say will work."
He says it's not an invitation to travel widely.
He says it's not an invitation to travel widely.
Walz plugs his homemade mask drive, the cloth kind not the medical grade N-95s.
More here
More here
Walz says unemployment rate among black Minnesotans "is the highest it's ever been" and among communities of color overall is double that of white Minnesotans.
He says he's got a special team working on addressing the issue.
He says he's got a special team working on addressing the issue.
Walz says he's consulting with local officials about the JBS plant in Worthington, where 19 #covid19 cases have shown up. He says there are family members of employees who work in the Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls, SD.
2,000 workers at site. More testing focus headed there.
2,000 workers at site. More testing focus headed there.
Walz says the plant remains open with more precautions -- safety gear, barriers between employees and isolation/tracing efforts.
"The way we protect each other is to make sure we continue our social distancing."
"The way we protect each other is to make sure we continue our social distancing."
Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says the latest 17 #COVID19 deaths involved people in their 60s to 90s.
!! Malcolm says there are at least THIRTY confirmed cases in Worthington area, some associated directly with JBS plant. !!
Context: Worthington's population (city) is about 13,200.
"We know there is spread in the community now so this needs to be a community response," Malcolm says.
"We know there is spread in the community now so this needs to be a community response," Malcolm says.
John Hick of Hennepin Healthcare, who is a special adviser on the #covid19 strategy, says Minnesota's surge capacity is more sound than other places. He says hospitals are ready to expand their campuses. PPE supplies remain scarce.
"In short, we've bought time," he says.
"In short, we've bought time," he says.
Hick says people who do have other health emergencies (chest pain, stroke symptoms) should still go to hospital when they need to.
Mary Turner, an ICU nurse and president of the MN Nurses Association, is tearfully talking about being asked to put a phone up so family can talk to a patient they can't visit.
"I want you all to realize how real and devastating this will be," she says.
"I want you all to realize how real and devastating this will be," she says.
Walz warns about "a false sense of security" beginning to creep in.
"Sheltering in place until a vaccine comes is not sustainable," Walz says, going back to his test, trace, isolate mantra of late.
"People are only going to go back to places when they feel it is safe to go back to places," he says.
"People are only going to go back to places when they feel it is safe to go back to places," he says.
Walz says he attempted to call President Trump, who tweeted "Liberate Minnesota," today without success.
"I just don't have time to try to figure out why something like that would happen. I just have to lead from Minnesota's perspective."
"I just don't have time to try to figure out why something like that would happen. I just have to lead from Minnesota's perspective."
Walz: "I'd like to know what they think we could have done differently. Because again we are leading as we were asked. We flattened the curve."
"I will never, ever stop dissent in terms of being able to speak your opinion. But I also think when you're advocating for really reckless behavior, that is a different thing," Walz says.
Walz says there won't be a light-switch moment where everything goes back to normal in one swoop. He says it will be gradual.
"I think we all have to get used to this: In the short run I don't think we're going to see Target Field filled with people."
"I think we all have to get used to this: In the short run I don't think we're going to see Target Field filled with people."
MDH officials say they're working with Office of Vital Records to gather information about deaths that appear to be #covid19 related but no test was done.
That information won't be available for a few weeks.
Some states report two sets of death numbers - confirmed and probable.
That information won't be available for a few weeks.
Some states report two sets of death numbers - confirmed and probable.
Walz addresses the criticism that he's relied on models showing worse outcomes that aren't coming to pass. He says breeds the notion that "we win and this thing goes away and gives up. It doesn't work that way. We don't yet know if it is going to be year-round, cyclical."
MDH has four staff on-site in Worthington. It shows how serious that outbreak is and the steps being taken to contain it.
One issue is that many of the affected people live in crowded housing settings, so local public health officials are working to find temporary housing.
Walz on Mayo/U of M testing plans. "Our partners have stepped up on this," he says. He's in consultation with #mnleg leaders about what it will take to foster the buildup (could lead to tens of thousands of tests per day)
"There isn't really a holdup," he says.
"There isn't really a holdup," he says.
Walz says a decision on school year will come obviously before May 4.
Walz says he's prepared to quickly sign the bill for takeout beer and wine from restaurants. The House is going to vote on it today. #mnleg
Walz says school and business reopening schedule do have to be kept in some kind of alignment.
Walz says he still thinks it's "unlikely" that schools will reopen.
"We understand the uncertainty causes more stress in this situation. We try to get you out the information as quickly as we can. But that is still ever-evolving."
"We understand the uncertainty causes more stress in this situation. We try to get you out the information as quickly as we can. But that is still ever-evolving."
"We've done so well and that might be a double-edged sword for us. I'm just afraid people are ready to bust out and this thing spikes up," Walz says.
Walz on food plants and need for safety: "We can't have all these plants go down. Not just for our workers and local community. But we have to help feed the world."
