MN Gov. Tim Walz To Announce Coronavirus Restrictions: Livestream

TWIN CITIES, MN — Gov. Tim Walz will announce new restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the latest surge of coronavirus cases in Minnesota. Walz will discuss the next steps in a live address Wednesday.

The governor's office has ramped up warnings about the virus in the past month, noting that cases have "skyrocketed" across the Midwest as the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors.

The new measures will come less than two weeks after the governor announced new guidelines and rules that apply to celebrations, receptions, bars, and restaurants, which have been identified as the most significant sources of COVID-19 outbreaks in the state.

State health officials found that more than 70 percent of COVID-19 outbreaks in Minnesota from June to November have a direct link back to weddings, private social gatherings, and late nights at bars and restaurants.

Additionally, COVID-19 is being disproportionately spread by young people — specifically between the ages of 18 and 35 — researchers find.

Thanksgiving

As of Monday, the state's top health officials have begun asking Minnesotans not to gather with other households for Thanksgiving or other social events this month, given the state's high rate of coronavirus infections.

"Right now, frankly, any gathering of more than a few people and with more than your immediate household presents a much higher risk than was the case even a couple of weeks ago," Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said at a news conference Monday.

Malcolm acknowledged the hard sacrifice Minnesotans are being asked to make, but said it could save lives and help relieve pressure on the state's hospitals and hospital staff.

Malcolm called the latest surge "very terrifying."

"In Minnesota, we've had alarming numbers for several days now," she said, citing Saturday's daily record of nearly 8,700 cases. The state saw close to 24,000 cases of COVID-19 over a three-day period, with an average of about 8,000 each day.