March 6, 2020
Break out the shorts! The warmest air mass in almost 5 months blows into Minnesota this weekend. Forecast models point to highs in the 60s for southern Minnesota by Sunday afternoon. The last time the Twin Cities hit 60 degrees was October 20. Topping off a mild Minnesota winter. Minnesota's first COVID-19 case has been confirmed. The virus was found in an older adult resident of Ramsey County who recently traveled on a ship with a known case of COVID-19, officials said Friday, adding that the person is recovering in isolation at home.
Health officials are working now to identify and reach out to all those who may have come in contact with the infected person and will ask them to quarantine themselves for 14 days from their exposure; they will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms.
“I'm confident Minnesota is prepared for this,” Gov. Tim Walz told reporters Friday afternoon. “The state of Minnesota is taking this very seriously and has been for weeks.”
Around the same time as the Minnesota announcement, Vice President Pence spoke to the press concerning 21 people on a cruise ship off California testing positive for the virus.
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— Sara Porter, MPR News | 