In Executive Council meeting, Minnesota @govtimwalz says another 80+ #COVID19 deaths will be reported today.
"We can never be desensitized to the numbers coming out," he says.
Even with recent downtick in new case counts, @MDHCommMalcolm says there are very few counties below "high-risk" threshold for number of new cases added on a 7-day rolling basis, test positivity, hospital admissions, community spread.
She says the improvements are clear, though.
On call, @AGEllison says the financial and economic toll of COVID has been hitting business hard but the #mnleg-approved bridge package and potential federal aid will help ease the burden.
"We're working to protect health and safety, as we must do," Ellison says.
Now @LtGovFlanagan makes the point that far more businesses are following the guidelines, even if begrudgingly, than are violating them despite the images that show up on the news or front pages.
The Executive Council, not surprisingly, unanimously backs the new Walz executive order. Meeting over.
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"When you lose the game, you blame the refs. It happens all the time," Assistant Attorney General Nathan Hartshorn tells the court in arguing that @MNSecofState should be removed as a defendant in the case.
Susan Shogren Smith, an attorney for the Republican voters challenging 4 DFL congressional race wins, said @MNSecofState's consent decrees around voting fed mistrust.
"He opened himself up to involvement. He created many of the issues," she said.
Shogren Smith told court that it isn't necessarily a challenge to the specific candidate wins.
Judge Leonardo Castro jumps in, saying that's all he's able to decide.
"What are we doing here if it's not about who won?" Castro says.
Now @AGEllison has taken the two restaurants (Alibi in Lakeville and Neighbors on the Rum in Princeton) to court, seeking fines, restitution and other actions.
. @GovTimWalz has started the presentation on his COVID19 restrictions. He'll take questions in a separate event later (I am not in the room but will tweet highlights).
"Rest assured, this pandemic will end. This pandemic is starting to transfer. But there is a lot of work left to be done," he says. "We are not out of the woods yet.
Walz pointing to a chart showing a big level of case growth in November followed by a gradual dip in December.
"That dropoff has been steeper than our surrounding states," Walz says.
Gov. Tim Walz has signed the $216 million COVID relief bill that also extends unemployment benefits.
His office says the administration has also updated its "Safe Learning Plan" to allow for every elementary school to reopen on Jan. 18 with mitigation steps.
Walz confirms next steps on restrictions:
-Gyms can open Sat at 25% capacity, 12 ft of distancing, no group classes before 1/4
-Youth and rec sports can resume practice on 1/4 but no games
-Social gatherings can be 3 households, 15 ppl max if outdoors
-Outdoor dining w/limits
New exec order removes recommended 14 day self-quarantine following out-of-state travel.
By my read, youth sports, outdoor workouts, practices, training and skill building that don't involve spectators or ppl from more than 3 households can begin sooner than Jan 4
NEW: Minnesota in line for 183,400 #COVID19 1st month vaccine kits.
"I caution all of us that this is going to take time and patience," @GovTimWalz says "You need to feel comfortable where the state is coming from. You need to feel comfortable with the safety around the vaccine."
Walz cautions the number could shift. That would be enough for about 90,000 vaccinations (each vaccine requires two doses spread over three weeks).
MN Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm: “We do know even with these initial relatively few doses we know we will not give as much vaccine as we know is needed" for priority groups.
She says it could be six months before the vaccine is in wide distribution.
--theaters, movie theaters, bowling alleys, museums, arcades all closed
--wedding receptions and events held after funerals and the like are on hold; that's contrary to last week's phased-in caps on size.
Minnesota's governor will advise people to avoid out-of-state travel for the time being and will urge anyone who does quarantine upon their return from trips.
But that won't be considered a formal mandate.
There remains conflicting reporting on the extent of the youth/high school sports pause.
Some are reporting organized outdoor sports will still be permitted; I am hearing otherwise. We'll continue to report it out and we'll all know by or before 6 pm.