Minnesota Reports 6,423 New COVID-19 Cases And 38 Deaths

From the Minnesota Reformer:

By Rilyn Eischens

November 24, 2020

Minnesota reported 6,423 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 38 deaths Tuesday, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

A total of 282,916 Minnesotans have tested positive for COVID-19, and 3,303 have died. The state’s positivity rate has been hovering near 15%, triple the rate that health experts say indicates controlled spread of COVID-19.

Minnesota is now averaging more than 250 new patients hospitalized with COVID-19 each day, and hospitals are strained as they care for record numbers of patients while staff are sidelined due to COVID-19 illness or exposure.

Health officials, doctors and nurses have pleaded with Minnesotans to stay home and avoid socializing with anyone outside their household, since even small Thanksgiving gatherings could result to a steep surge in COVID-19 cases after the holiday.

Over the weekend, new restrictions from Gov. Tim Walz went into effect that limit bars and restaurants to takeout-only, close gyms and prohibit social gatherings of any kind through Dec. 18.

The Minnesota Reformer is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping Minnesotans informed and unearthing stories other outlets can’t or won’t tell..