April 28, 2020
Rain tapers off tomorrow, with sunshine coming back. After today’s thirst-quenching shower, our springlike temps will return, with highs in the lower 60s in the Twin Cities. Clouds from today will linger a bit until Wednesday morning, but skies will get clear by the afternoon across Minnesota. COVID-19 in Minnesota today: 4K cases confirmed, death toll tops 300. State health officials reported 15 more deaths today, and 314 people currently hospitalized, and 120 patients in ICU. Testing remains a primary concern with the current stay-at-home order set to expire next week. "We're not where we need to be on testing,” Dan Huff, an assistant health commissioner, said. The daily number of tests reported on Tuesday was 2,561 - around half the state’s goal, 5,000. Some nonessential businesses OK’d to reopen - with proper safety measures in place. Some nonessential businesses in Minnesota started reopening their doors this week. While they are required to have a plan for social distancing and good hygiene to prevent an outbreak in order to bring their employees back, the state is relying on companies to police themselves to some degree due to a lack of supervising resources. States should “seriously consider” reopening schools soon, Trump says. “It’s not a big subject, young children have done very well in this disaster that we’ve all gone through,” said President Trump in a call with governors, urging them to consider reopening schools before the end of this academic year. None of the governors on the call responded to the suggestion, and dozens already have said it would be unsafe for students to return until the summer or fall. Many states are eyeing internet voting this election year, but will that be secure enough? As the pandemic has already upended primary elections in several states, some states are considering internet-based voting to aid voters who may have the most trouble getting to the polls - despite warnings that the technology doesn't offer sufficient safeguards to protect the integrity of an election. With several major meat processing plants shut due to COVID-19 outbreaks, many are worried that meat and other food supplies may get lean. Has the pandemic affected your diet? How have you been getting your food these days? Share your story here. — Jiwon Choi, MPR News | 