Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Department of Health

• Commissioner Malcolm reported 1,916 new cases of COVID-19. This brings the state’s total number of COVID-19 cases to 139,444. The state had had 21 days of cases over 1,000.
• Yesterday, 15,677 COVID-19 tests were processed.
• A total of 9,855 individuals have been hospitalized for COVID-19 thus far with 2,600 of those in the ICU.
• Currently, 643 patients are hospitalized for COVID-19. This is up 37 from the previous day.
• The seven-day COVID-19 test positivity average is 6.5%.
• The commissioner noted that Governor Walz has referred to this pandemic as a “long, dark, cold, winter” and she built upon that metaphor by saying that when we’re facing a storm, we ask people to stay off the roads so that emergency vehicles can keep people safe. Malcolm said that same concept applies to COVID-19 as the state is asking people to keep social distance, avoid large gatherings, and wear masks.

Director Kris Ehresmann, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Division

• Director Ehresmann provided an overview of low, moderate, and high risk activities relating to Halloween, according to the CDC.
• She also outlined safe voting guidance – avoid crowds, vote at off-times, wear a mask, and sanitize your hands before and after leaving the polling place. More information can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health’s website.

Amos A. Briggs | Government Relations
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