Thread by @Stowydad

"I don't want to lose the humanity that is in the middle of this," @GovTimWalz says in a call featuring people personally impacted by #COVID19 illnesses or deaths within their families. "You will hear stories that are heartbreaking. That are stories of triumphs and battling."

Ex-GOP state Rep. @NickZerwas says he first had symptoms #covid19 8 days ago that landed him in ICU (he has severe heart condition).

Through coughs, he says, "I was stunned when I became so overwhelmed and ill from this virus. It happened so quickly and it progressed so fast."

His recovery led to his hospital release after 5 days. He received Remdesivir and other new treatments that helped him make a quick turnaround.

He admits he downplayed #COVID19 before contracting it.

"2 weeks ago I didn't know a soul in Sherburne County that tested positive."

Sarah Winston's daughter was in ICU for a week at Childrens Hospital. Her daughter had no underlying conditions and was physically fit.

She stresses importance of youth sports as children are otherwise homebound. (Walz could restrict them)

But says, "Stay home when you're sick.

Dr. Jon Cole had #COVID19 as did his wife and four children.

"As sick as we were, we were never sick enough to be hospitalized. But it was a miserable two weeks," the Hennepin Healthcare emergency medicine doctor says.

"COVID is a lot like a forest fire," Cole says. "Us health care workers are on the frontlines trying to fight that fire. But equally and perhaps even more important is that everyone in our community work on the back end, wearing masks and social distancing and seeking tests."

. @LtGovFlanagan, whose brother, Ron, died of COVID-19 in March, says "this has been a very long journey for all of us."

"I don't want anyone else to endure what my family has done," she says, adding that her brother's ashes were finally laid to rest in October.

"I have seem remarkable cruelty toward myself and towards others who have experienced a loss of a family member due to COVID," Flanagan says. "My brother had cancer yes, but he also had a fighting chance."

People w/other conditions "had life left to live and COVID stole years."

Walz says he's not trying to be "coy" on new restrictions afoot. He says he's trying to make data-driven decisions and consulting with stakeholders.

"We need to make sure that we're listening and hearing and seeing exactly what's on the ground and issuing those orders."

Zerwas on the politics of #COVID19: "There are days and there are times to find political issues in which to pick fights and to debate about. What my hope and my message today is COVID isn't one of them."

Walz says Minnesota can come close to adding 400 ICU beds in 72 hours if needed (short of adding field hospitals) but staffing remains the biggest concern.

Walz says the guidance on youth sports (and probably other new restrictions) are coming WEDNESDAY.

"Every single industry says 'It's not us, it's not coming from here. It's not coming from here.'" Walz says of pushback he receives when he's formulating new mitigation measures.

"I understand the sports, the passion that's around it. But this is a lot bigger than that and it's a lot more issues that we're going to have to address," Walz says.

Whoa, a @smontemayor appearance on the Walz COVID call.

Walz says he's been in contact via text with @paulgazelka and expressed his concern over the health of those who are ill and also about transparency.

Of Gazelka's pledge to apply lessons and work together on COVID, "Today's developments sure seem positive all the way around."