Testing Total approximate number of completed tests: 22,934 Total approximate number of completed tests from the MDH Public Health Lab: 8,580 Total approximate number of completed tests from external laboratories: 13,814 Minnesota Case Information Total positive: 742 Deaths: 18 Patients who no longer need to be isolated: 373 Hospitalization Total cases requiring hospitalization: 138 Hospitalized as of today: 75 Hospitalized in ICU as of today: 38 Demographics Age Median Age Age Range All cases 47 4 months - 104 years Non-hospitalized cases 42 4 months - 104 years Hospitalized cases 64 6 - 98 years Hospitalized cases in ICU 63 25 - 98 years [...]

As restaurants are adjusting to the new normal of take out and drive through service only, owners like Tam Kennedy who runs a Taco Johns franchise in Minnesota are trying to keep business running while also caring for their employees. "All of our employees are still on staff. We wanted to keep everybody working, so we've managed to make that happen right now." Kennedy told Fox News Channel they are doing what they can to support their employees, including sending them home with meal kits using supplies from their restaurant kitchen.

As Governor Tim Walz's stay at home order remains in effect, the Minnesota Pharmacists Association (MPhA) has this important reminder: "I think the most important thing to know is that your pharmacist is here as a resource, we are on the front lines and doing our best to care for patients where we can." MPhA Executive Director Sarah Derr says pharmacies are continuing to provide over the counter medications during the stay-at-home order--and many are open for curbside or drive-through pick-up. Many pharmacies can mail medications as well.

Governor Tim Walz announced that the application process for emergency grants for child care providers is open. This funding was passed by the legislature as part of their COVID-19 Response Supplemental Budget. There are approximately 420,000 children under the age of 12 who live in a household of an essential worker within a critical sector. Of these, the state estimates that during this peacetime emergency, about 270,000 children will need care and approximately 120,000 are likely to need and use licensed child care settings. These grants will provide about $10 million per month over the next few months to support basic [...]

Groups representing dairy farmers and cooperatives in the Midwest today urged the federal government to provide direct assistance to farmers and to expedite the purchase of additional dairy foods amid unprecedented disruptions in supply and demand due to the COVID-19 national emergency. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the groups cited the mass closure of restaurants, schools and other food service outlets, decimated export markets and a sharp drop in prices farmers are being paid for their milk.

Dear Saint Peter Business Owners,  The City of Saint Peter and St. Peter Chamber of Commerce are hosting the third COVID-19 Business Economic Impact Session at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 3, 2020. During last week's session, we were joined by over 50 local businesses logging in on their computer or phone. It would be great to exceed that number this week as we have room for many more participants.  As with the previous weeks, the goal of the session is to share the information that impacts your business and employees. We hope to provide direction to the resources and information [...]

Gov. Tim Walz has announced that he'll deliver his postponed State of the State address on Sunday evening at 7 p.m., and he says he's looking forward to speaking directly to Minnesotans during this uncertain time. The governor said Wednesday that he'll deliver the speech alone with a remote camera from the Governor's Residence, where he was in his 12th day of self-quarantining since a member of his security detail tested positive for COVID-19. “It is appropriate at this time with the character of Minnesota shining so brightly that we address where we're at, and more importantly, where we're going,” Walz [...]