Minnesota’s Coronavirus Tipping Point — We’re Not Out Of The Woods Yet

Minnesota is at a tipping point as we head into Labor Day weekend. As indicated yesterday during Governor Tim Walz‘s press conference, we’re back in a place similar to one we experienced in April, yet we aren’t sheltering in place — we’re enjoying barbecues, attending weddings and going back to school, with a great many gathering mask-less.

EVAN FROST — MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

“As we head into the fall and the long winter ahead, we must double down in our fight to combat the spread of COVID-19.We must all do our part to slow the spread, protect our communities, and keep our businesses open. I know it is hard, but Minnesotans are resilient people. We must dig deep, stay strong, and hold the virus at bay.” — Walz

Six months in, our state’s new case rate now exceeds the national average and outpaces growth for the first time in the number of diagnostic tests performed.

Minnesota reported another 1,047 confirmed infections Thursday, increasing the state’s total to 78,123. The daily case total was inflated by belated reporting of some tests by private labs. There were also seven more deaths, lifting the total number of Minnesotans who’ve died from COVID-19 and its complications to 1,837. — Pioneer Press

Sixth months in, we continue to battle the uneducated few spreading false information, myths, debunked conspiracy theories, those that are bored with the pandemic, and those that will yearly mourn the lives of 2,977 lost on September 11, 2001, but refuse to believe 187,000 U.S. deaths is something to worry about.

According to a New York Times analysis of death estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the true coronavirus death toll is already above 200,000. To put that number into perspective, 7K Americans were killed during the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict, 58K during the Vietnam War, 116K during WWI, and 405K during World War II.

For total cases, the map shows the known locations of coronavirus cases by county. Circles are sized by the number of people there who have tested positive or have a probable case of the virus, which may differ from where they contracted the illness.

Six months in, we’re still asking (begging) that everyone help prevent the spread of a virus that has taken the lives of 869,000 people around the world. This isn’t hard. This shouldn’t be hard. As Governor Tim Walz mentioned yesterday, our individual response to the virus dictates which way we head. Be smart. Please prove that you care about your family, my family, and the people you don’t know. Let’s stop fueling the pandemic.

#StaySafeMN