Gov. Walz extends Minnesota’s COVID-19 state of emergency

Associated Press

During a news conference Monday, Gov. Tim Walz discusses the state's testing strategy.[KSTP-TV]

Gov. Tim Walz has extended Minnesota’s peacetime state of emergency by another 30 days so he can continue to use executive orders to direct the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

With the Legislature in session, the governor no longer needs to call special sessions to give lawmakers a chance to rescind those extensions.

Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm told the Executive Council Wednesday that Minnesota has now recorded 440,354 coronavirus cases, averaging about 10,000 new cases per week, with 5,774 deaths, averaging about 40 per day. Health officials on Wednesday reported 1,505 new cases and 50 new deaths.

"As of today, Minnesota has administered the vaccine to over 140,000 health care workers and Minnesotans most susceptible to COVID-19," Walz said in a statement. "The sun is rising on the pandemic, but we need to remain vigilant until we put the threat of COVID-19 behind us. The peacetime emergency gives us the tools to keep Minnesotans healthy and deliver the vaccine in a way that is effective, safe, and equitable."

MDH reports 50 new COVID-related deaths, 1,504 new cases Wednesday