Walz joins Midwest governors to urge safety heading into holidays amid pandemic

On Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joined Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers in participating in a call to encourage everyone across the region to remain safe heading into the holiday season.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine were expected on the call but did not make an appearance Tuesday.

"For eight months, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated American families everywhere. To fight this virus, governors across the country have listened to medical experts, stepped up, and worked around the clock to protect our families, the brave men and women on the front lines, and our small business owners," the governors said in a joint statement. "And no matter the action we take, we understand that our fight against COVID-19 will be more effective when we work together. That is why this group of bipartisan governors is joining forces today to urge families across our region, and Americans everywhere, to do their part to protect themselves and their families from the spread of COVID-19. When it comes to fighting this virus, we are all on the same team."

Over the past month, COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed across the Midwest and medical experts are advising people not to host Thanksgiving with people from outside their own households.

Together, the governors each addressed the families in their region and how they can protect their loved ones, the front line workers and small business owners from the COVID-19 pandemic.