Daily COVID-19 briefing: Updated numbers, lab supply shortages and reemphasis and enforcement of MDH guidelines

Minnesota Department of Health officials addressed an array of topics during Friday’s COVID-19 daily briefing, including an update on state and national coronavirus numbers, an emerging shortage of testing supplies and possibly personal protective equipment and a reemphasis on MDH guidelines, including enforcement.

Updated numbers:

MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm gave an update on COVID-19 numbers around the world as well in Minnesota.

Worldwide, cases are approaching 14 million with deaths just shy of 600,000. In the United States cases have surpassed 3.6 million and deaths stand just short of 140,000.

In Minnesota, there were 669 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 45,013 since the pandemic began. Seven additional deaths were also reported, which bring the total in Minnesota to 1,533 deaths from COVID-19.

Lab supply shortages:

With COVID-19 cases increasing around the country, lab supplies have started to become more difficult to procure, according to MDH Director of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Kris Ehresmann.

Ehresmann says many sectors are now requiring negative tests before allowing employees to come back to work. She said this practice is not recommended by MDH and a negative test one day could still mean you’re positive the next.

Ehresmann also noted that we should try to make sure testing supplies are allocated to the most vulnerable.

PPE supply chain issues are also beginning to become a concern once again according to Malcolm. While Malcolm says that they are currently comfortable with the amount of personal protective equipment on-hand in the state, the increase in cases nationally has caused concern about the amount of personal protective equipment Minnesota may need through the rest of the year.

MDH guideline reemphasis:

Malcolm said 120 complaints have been made to MDH regarding bars and restaurants not following social distancing or other MDH guidelines.

Complaints range from employees not wearing masks to overcrowding to not having enough space between tables. Malcolm reemphasized how important following these guidelines is to combat the virus.

Malcolm also said that some employees at MDH have been reassigned to enforce the state’s guidelines and that they will pay visits to establishments that are not following them.

"Compliance we get not only facilities but also patrons helps make it more likely that we can continue to enjoy these services at all," Malcolm said.