Minnesota reports 492 additional positive COVID-19 cases, 24 more deaths Thursday as testing ramps up

(FOX 9) - Minnesota reported 24 additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 Thursday. The state's death toll from the disease is now 343.

State health officials also reported 492 new COVID-19 cases Thursday as testing continues to increase. There have now been 5,136 positive cases of the coronavirus in the state.

Minnesota reports 3,532 completed tests over a 24-hour period, the most to date. But, the number is still far short of the 5,000 a day that health officials have made the goal by Monday.

Of the confirmed cases of coronavirus in Minnesota, 2,172 are patients who have recovered and no longer need to be isolated, according to the latest data from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Nobles County surged to 742 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Thursday, the second highest number of cases of any county in the state. Nobles County has the 45th largest population of Minnesota's 87 counties. MDH has focused testing in that area after an outbreak at the now-closed JBS pork plant in Worthington.

Turn the dial: Gov. Walz urges patience as Minnesota moves backs towards normal

There was a bit of welcome news for businesses hoping to get employees back to work this week as Governor Walz opened up a little more this week on his plans to slowly open up the economy.

Health officials said 365 patients are currently hospitalized for COVID-19, with 130 of them in the intensive care unit. The youngest COVID-19 patient in the ICU is 16 years old.

Nearly 20 percent of the COVID-19 cases in Minnesota have required hospitalization.

The Minnesota Department of Health is now providing more accurate age ranges for confirmed cases. Ages 70 or above make up 21 percent of the state's confirmed cases and 83 percent of the deaths.

Minnesota's youngest COVID-19 patient is less than a month old. The oldest is 109 years old. The median age of the Minnesotans who have died from COVID-19 is 83. The age range for the state's deaths is 30 to 109 years old.

At least 28 percent of Minnesota's COVID-19 cases are in congregate care facilities, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilites and group homes. Officials have now begun identifying congregate living facilities that have seen COVID-19 cases.

79 of Minnesota's 87 counties now have confirmed cases of COVID-19, with eight counties reporting more than 100 cases. Health officials say the virus is likely circulating in every Minnesota community, whether a county has a confirmed case or not.

LIVE MAP: A county-by-county breakdown of Minnesota 's COVID-19 cases

MDH confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Minnesota on March 6. On March 11, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic.

The state has launched a new, online dashboard where the public can find data regarding COVID-19 testing, supplies and more. It can be found here.

MINORITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY COVID-19

Health officials are worried about the access to care for people of color as well as how they are treated by health care workers as COVID-19 cases increase in Minnesota.

Recent data shows whites make up about 84 percent of the state’s population, but they only represent 44 percent of cases. African Americans now make up 14 percent of the state’s confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Why black Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19

Experts explain why the disparity exists in Minnesota communities.

While minorities represent a disproportionate number of coronavirus cases in Minnesota, the death rates for those groups are not as high. Black Minnesotans account for five percent of deaths attributed to the virus, while white Minnesotans represent 66 percent.

Lack of access to health care, unfair treatment by health care workers, and underlying health conditions are some of the major reasons behind the disparities. African Americans and other minority groups are also less likely to be able to work from home and rely on public transit.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS CONTINUE PLEA FOR MORE PPE

Nearly 18 percent of Minnesota’s COVID-19 cases--923--are health care workers, although health officials note that health care workers are a priority when it comes to testing.

As the overall number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, health care workers are expressing concerns about the ongoing shortage of personal protective equipment, such as N95 masks.

Minnesota health care workers continue plea for more PPE

Minnesota health care workers continue their plea for more Personal Protective Equipment ahead of the state's predicted peak.

At some hospitals, health care workers are being asked to reuse PPE like N95 masks, when they would usually use one per patient. For example, M Health Fairview said it is giving each front line worker five N95 respirators to rotate over 10 days, with the hope of using each one twice. They also started using ultraviolet radiation to decontaminate those masks daily so they can be used up to six times.

First responders and health care workers have been granted easier access to workers’ compensation benefits if they contract COVID-19 on the job. Gov. Walz signed legislation earlier this month which designates the coronavirus as a workplace illness for firefighters, EMTs, police officers, health care workers and some child care providers.

MINNESOTANS ORDERED TO STAY HOME

To slow the spread of COVID-19 and continue to give the state health care system more time to prepare, Gov. Walz has extended the peacetime emergency through May 13.

Since declaring the peacetime emergency on March 13, Walz has used sweeping powers under the emergency declaration to force thousands of businesses and schools to close, activate the National Guard and halt evictions.

The governor’s stay-at-home order has also been extended until May 4, although it includes a handful of new exemptions that allows some people to go back to work.

The Governor has issued a stay-at-home order, but what does that mean?

Everything you need to know about Gov. Tim Walz's newly issued stay-at-home order.

Walz has expanded unemployment benefits to employees impacted by the closures resulting from the pandemic. Since mid-March, more than 428,000 Minnesotans—13.7 percent of the state’s workforce—have filed for unemployment, although the trend appears to be slowing.

COVID-19 HOTLINES

MDH has three hotlines for questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hotline for health questions is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The number to call is 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903.

The hotline for community mitigation (schools, childcare, business) questions is also open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The number to call is 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504.

The hotline for housing questions is 651-296-8215 for single-family residences and 651-297-4455 for multi-family residences. The hotline is staff Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The state has also launched a helpline for people to report incidents of bias or discrimination resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The number to call is 1-833-454-0148. Translation and interpretation services are available.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SICK

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.

It can also spread when people touch surfaces that have been contaminated by an infected person and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

Some recent studies have also suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscles aches, headache, sore throat or diarrhea. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and you can manage them at home, MDH says you do not need to go to the doctor or get tested. Instead, you should do the following:

Stay home
Wash your hands often
Cough your coughs and sneezes
Avoid sharing personal household items like dishes, towels, bedding, etc.
Clean surfaces you touch often

Minnesota Dept. of Health narrowing testing criteria amid national shortage of COVID-19 tests

The Minnesota Department of Health says it is narrowing the criteria to test for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, due to a limited supply of testing materials. 

If your symptoms worsen or you notice any of the emergency warning signs (trouble breathing, ongoing pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or not being able to wake up, bluish lips or face), call your health can provider right away.

People are advised to call their doctor or clinic before going in, if possible. They will give you instructions to help protect you and other patients.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COVID-19

The CDC and MDH recommend Minnesotans do the following to protect themselves and their loved ones and limit the spread of COVID-19:

Stay home and avoid gatherings with people outside of your household
Keep 6 feet of space between yourself and other people when you do go out
Wash your hands often
Cover your coughs and sneezes
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Clean surfaces that you touch often

Tips on washing your hands to reduce spreading germs

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, health officials are advising people to be sure to wash your hands. Follow these tips to help reduce the spread.

The CDC is now recommending people wear face masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as grocery stores and pharmacies as well as in areas that are seeing significant community transmission of the virus.

Wearing a mask can not only prevent you from getting sick, but also helps people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.