With COVID Cases Soaring, Is Minnesota Facing Another Shutdown?

The coronavirus outbreak is still raging across the Midwest including here in Minnesota, so are state officials going to dial things back again?

It's news that seemed to get lost in all the election coverage earlier this week, but the COVID-19 pandemic is still around-- and getting worse here in Minnesota. Cases of the coronavirus continue to increase, with the state setting new records for positive cases just about every day this week. We've even set daily records here in Olmsted County, too, with 108 new cases (a new record) reported on Wednesday.

State health officials had a goal of keeping our positivity rate near 5%, but it's soared to over 9% statewide this week-- as bad as it was earlier this year. So, is Minnesota looking at 'dialing back' things with the possibility of a new shutdown?

Well, according to CBS-Minnesota, while things are serious right now, a new shutdown ISN'T necessarily in the forecast for the Land of 10,000 Lakes-- at least, not right now, anyway. They asked that question of Gov. Walz and state health officials Thursday. Minnesota Department of Health Commission Jan Malcolm responded by saying, in part:

The governor has always said the virus will dictate where we go. We can’t eliminate all risk in a global pandemic, but we’ve long had the goal of keeping transmission at a point where there’s a hospital bed available for anyone who needs it. The governor has and will continue to look at ways we can minimize the potential for spread through official actions...

The story noted that Malcom went on to say that it's important for everyone in Minnesota to help by wearing a mask, keeping a safe distance from others, avoid crows and get tested. But, no, she didn't specifically say a new shutdown order was imminent. Of course, that doesn't mean the governor isn't considering one in the future, however.

And, the U.S. isn't the only place dealing with a new surge in coronavirus cases. Europe is now facing another spike as well, and countries like France, England and Germany have all ordered new shutdowns. (England's new month-long shutdown just started Thursday and will last until December 2nd!)

While we wait for a COVID vaccine to be readily available, we still have to keep going about our daily lives, right? So which activities are the ones that put you at the most risk to contract the coronavirus? Keep scrolling to find out...

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