| Photo by Chris Juhn for MPR News
May 5, 2020
Many Minnesota restaurants, bars and hotels are on the brink of failure, trade group says | | |
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Good morning. It's Tuesday, and here is the latest on COVID-19 in Minnesota. First, a forecast.
More on Updraft. | Forecast
More than half of Minnesota's hospitality businesses "face certain, permanent closure in the next two months on the current course." That's according to a survey by trade group Hospitality Minnesota, whose CEO Liz Rammer spoke at the governor's COVID-19 briefing Monday. The restaurants, bars, campgrounds, hotels and resorts she represents have taken a "monumental hit" in the past six weeks.
Hospitality businesses say they understand the need for coronavirus precautions, but they're ready to open now. "Our businesses and the public are ready to approach this new new normal," Rammer said. Gov. Tim Walz said he doesn't have a date for the next round of business re-openings. "I don't have an exact date … the sooner you can get certainty, the better," he said.
The numbers of hospitalizations and people in intensive care for COVID-19 hit new highs Monday. In addition, the Health Department's coronavirus website added a separate death toll for for people who lived in long-term care or assisted-living facilities. On Monday, that count was 345 deaths.
Here are the latest coronavirus statistics:
7,234 confirmed cases via 85,941 tests428 deaths1,271 cases requiring hospitalization396 people remain hospitalized; 166 in intensive care4,212 patients recoveredThere is one hopeful statistic ... about 58 percent of Minnesota’s total COVID-19 patients have recovered as of Monday. Last week, that percentage got as low as about 40 percent as testing, and case counts, increased.
Minnesota Republicans are continuing to pressure Walz to reopen the economy more quickly. Senate Republicans have formed a task force to work on COVID-19 economic recovery issues. Paul Gazelka, the GOP senate majority leader, predicted there will be reopening missteps along the way, but said the state can adjust as needed.
But, again, the health experts have a different take. “The stay-at-home order remains in place for another two weeks. And we really need people to observe that by staying within their household groups, and only going out for brief errands or allowable business activities," Health Department Commissioner Jan Malcolm said.
A deal for restarting elective surgeries and nonemergency dental procedures could come as soon as today. Walz said he expects an announcement Tuesday that'll allow doctors, hospitals and dental clinics to go back to work. For the past weeks, such services have been on hold to preserve the critical protective gear and other equipment needed to responded to a surge in COVID-19 cases.
We still want your stories of good amid the pandemic. Share your story of how someone has helped you or someone you know through this difficult time.
— Cody Nelson, MPR News | @codyleenelson |
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