April 2, 2020

During the April 2 COVID-19 briefing, Governor Walz announced a plan to get more accurate information out to the public. Inaccurate information can be potentially dangerous, so Walz finds it important to give updates frequently. He also addressed how it’s important to not share too much information with the public so people’s private information is safe. The new accurate information should become available soon. Governor Walz has also been working with commissioner Steve Kelly to eliminate cost sharing for COVID-19 victims.

Steve Kelly was in on the call. He shared the new waving cost plan for COVID-19 victims. Governor Walz and Steve Kelly feel like it’s important that victims of the virus won’t be drowning in hospital payments during the crisis. With insurance, patients who’ve been hospitalized from COVID-19 will have no out of pocket costs for their treatment. 

Jan Malcolm shared further updates on Minnesota’s health. As of April 2, 2020, there were 742 lab confirmed cases of COVID-19. There were an additional 53 added to the total from April 1. With one more death, the total number of deaths in Minnesota had reached 18. There are currently 138 people hospitalized for COVID-19, which is an increase of 75 from April 1. On a higher note, 373 Minnesotans have recovered from the virus and are now back in their homes. 

The state is still unable to give out as many tests for COVID-19 as they would like. Some groups of people are prioritized for COVID-19 testing because they are more at risk of getting or spreading the virus. Prioritized people include healthcare workers and people living in congregate settings. Commissioner Jan Malcolm makes it clear that people living in congregate settings aren’t just people in nursing homes. Clinics have been turning down testing to people living in other congregate care, but she hopes that will no longer continue. 

To close the conference, Governor Walz answered the press’ questions. When asked how likely it is that schools will close for the rest of the year, like they have in other states, Governor Walz confirmed the potential outcome. He stressed, “I think it’s a relatively strong possibility that that will happen here too. I think the chance of being able to gather back at school is relatively slim.” That is not the news many were looking to hear. Yet nothing is currently set in stone.