Hospitalizations, ICU cases highest in a month

Ideal for human comfort. The weather bliss continues until the end of the week in Minnesota. Thursday highs will be in the upper 70s to the mid-80s. Sunny, clear skies will prevail tomorrow.

Minnesota’s hospitalization, ICU case counts highest in a month. Are these discouraging numbers just a blip? No, says Kris Ehresmann, the state’s infectious disease director, adding the increase in hospitalizations will likely continue. As of Wednesday, 310 Minnesotans are hospitalized with COVID-19, including 143 people in ICU. The new case count trajectory (681) also keeps shooting upward, which has been a trend since earlier this month.

No indoor bar services in Minneapolis starting Saturday . Mayor Jacob Frey announced the new measure to curb the virus’ spread today, saying “a night out at the bar is too often leading to nights in the hospital for family, for friends and for neighbors.” City officials said hundreds of COVID-19 cases have been traced to bars, including three outbreaks among bar employees. While the restriction shuts down indoor bar areas like taprooms and nightclubs, restaurants can still operate indoor food service and staff can bring alcoholic drinks to tables.

Minnesota will give away 4 million free masks to businesses. Gov. Walz announced the plan today during his meeting with business leaders in the state, saying it's important for business owners to have masks available for anyone who needs one. Walz and Minnesota health officials have said Minnsota needs 90 percent or better compliance to curb the spread of the virus.

Most U of M classes this fall are likely to stay online. The university has rolled out plans that allow for flexibility in classes amid the virus crisis. The plans list more than 6,200 classes as online or remote. So far, the Twin Cities campus has around 2,600 classes assigned to a room, meaning they'll be either in-person classes or used in a hybrid of in person and online. Students can adjust their classes to take them in the format that works best for them, a U of M spokesperson said.

— Jiwon Choi, MPR News | @ChoiGEE1