MDH COVID-19 briefing: Walz, Minnesota doctors urge continued caution amid pandemic

Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota doctors urged Minnesotans to continue being cautious and working to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

The doctors talked about the tremendous workload and stress health care employees are under due to the number of COVID patients in hospitals. They also urged Minnesotans to forgo in-person holiday gatherings until the pandemic is over, noting it’s very difficult but is only for one year, and there are other ways to connect with loved ones by using technology.

"Please, help us, help you," Dr. Peter Bornstein, with St. Paul Infectious Disease Associates, said. "Keep wearing the masks. Keep doing the social distancing… we are all in this together, and we will reach the end of this trail together."

Dr. Kevin Croston, CEO of North Memorial Health, says hospitals are doing all they can to handle a surge in patients.

"We’ve changed our operations to meet the demands of the virus," he said standing alongside the governor. "We’ve repurposed our equipment. We’ve cross-trained staff. We’ve postponed non-essential but time-sensitive procedures to make things work and for the most part it has. Our preparations have largely been successful as we’ve cared for record numbers of people during he fall surge. But in all honesty we’re watching right now with wary eyes."

Walz delayed an announcement until Wednesday on whether or not current restrictions will be extended, saying data is still coming in from over Thanksgiving and the latest data needs to be considered in a decision like that. The current restrictions are set to expire on Dec. 18.

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Walz also answered questions on a variety of other topics during Friday’s press conference.

The governor said Minnesota is one of few states working on COVID relief legislation while Congress has been unable to strike an agreement on a larger aid package. Walz said he hopes state lawmakers pass the relief package during Monday’s special session.

On businesses defying current restrictions and opening for things like indoor dining, Walz said he understands business owners’ frustration but the restrictions are for public safety and not to hurt businesses.

Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm noted 10 new cases per 100,000 people is considered a serious spread; Minnesota is currently at 85 per 100,000.

"Nobody likes it. We’re tired… but there is an end state," Walz said. "The question is, how much damage is done between now and then, and we have the power to control it."

MDH: 3,773 new COVID-19 cases, 94 deaths reported Friday