In front of reporters, Gov. Tim Walz says the 10-person/3 household cap applies to Thanksgiving gatherings but "we’re not going into someone’s home and arresting them on Thanksgiving."
I asked if this was so important, why wait until after the election?
Walz: "Had we been at this spike in August, we would’ve done it in August... The virus dictates our timing. The virus dictates the moves we make."
I asked for evidence that infection rates double after 9 p.m., as Walz said in his speech.
"It does," Walz said. "It's human behavior" that people get closer together, talk louder.
He points out that Utah also imposed a 10 p.m. curfew on bars today.
Walz is asked why schools aren't included in these deeper restrictions.
Infectious disease director Kris Ehresmann answers, says there's "much more" spread in the community than within school buildings themselves.
Walz says he had 24 people at his family Thanksgiving last year. It'll be him, First Lady Gwen Walz and their two kids this year -- and possibly the governor's mom.
"It'll be a hard Thanksgiving," Walz says when asked about Minnesota families dealing with gathering limits.
NEW: Economic development commissioner Steve Grove says Minnesota lifted all capacity limits on retailers today.
"Retail just isn't a concern" for virus spread, he says. Social distancing rules remain.
There are no additional restrictions on sports or gyms, Grove confirms.
So, to those asking me about youth sports: no changes.
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Gov. Tim Walz on surge in coronavirus cases in Minnesota: "I wish I could tell you this was unexpected, but it is not."
Walz, pointing to a chart during his live statewide speech showing Minnesota's case growth, says this week's increase "would go absolutely off the television screen."
As Walz winds up to his announcement on new restrictions, a reminder that we've already reported what they are. Read them here:
After a federal judge signals that he’ll let Minnesota’s mask mandate stand, @GovTimWalz suggests that it’s here to stay.
“One of the last things we’ll do is lose the masks,” Walz says.
He declines to lay out a timeline because of the pandemic’s uncertainty.
Walz suggests he’s unlikely to fill open cabinet positions soon, after the Senate fired two commissioners and another retired.
“I’m hesitant to fill them before the election, because I think they’ll (Senate GOP) remove them again,” Walz says.
Walz still will not say if he’ll drop his endorsement of John Thompson, a Democratic House candidate who made violent threats against the Minneapolis police union president and his wife this summer.
“I need to sit down and figure this out,” Walz says.
Attorney Erik Kaardal, who is suing Gov. Tim Walz and others over Minnesota's mask mandate, has run into a very skeptical U.S. District Court Judge Patrick Schiltz this morning.
"My word, your honor," an exasperated Kaardal said after Schiltz questioned several of his claims.
Schiltz does not immediately rule on the lawsuit challenging Minnesota's mask mandate, but tells an attorney for the state that he's "leaning your way."
He says he'll have a ruling soon.
In one exchange, Schiltz said people can protest the mandate in many ways w/o violating it.
Kaardal argued violating the mandate is "not a big deal, judge. It's just a protest."
“People who are vulnerable to COVID might think it’s a bigger deal than you do," Schiltz retorted.
Tense meeting between Minneapolis council members and @MinneapolisPD Chief Medaria Arradondo this morning about crime spikes, lack of police response.
A thread:
@MinneapolisPD Yesterday, another 17 year old was murdered in Minneapolis. There have been 55 homicides this year, which surpassed the 48 from all of 2019.
Shootings are at a five-year high, and 400 people have been shot this year, Arradondo said.
@MinneapolisPD “If we just stayed status quo right now, we will end this year with numbers that are absolutely unconscionable,” Arradondo said.
The House and Senate both started today's special session with a Sept. 11 remembrance.
Now both chambers are moving to resolutions that would end Gov. Tim Walz's emergency powers.
Both would have to vote to end them, which won't happen. #mnleg
In the Senate, Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says "We’re not in an emergency. 9/11 was an emergency...We do not minimize the fact that COVID-19 is serious."
The Senate votes 36-31 as expected to end Gov. Walz’s emergency powers (Eken again is only lawmaker on either side to break ranks).
The debate is still going in the House, but Democrats there have vowed to uphold Walz’s powers.