Governor Tim Walz called on Minotanans to “honor” those who lost their lives to COVID-19, the day the state caused a record 101 deaths from the virus.
The one-day peak shattered the previous peak of 72, reported on two days in November, and occurs after virus-induced spitting cases and hospitalization.
Among the deaths reported on Friday was a person aged 25-29 in Hennepin County.
Further pain could follow in the coming weeks, with hospitalizations for COVID-19 reaching record highs earlier in the week, with deaths generally falling short of hospital care.
In a statement issued on Friday, Walz called on Minotanans to honor the deceased in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“On this Thanksgiving, many Minnesotanians set their festive table smaller than usual,” he said. “Many have chosen to protect their families from the spread of COVID-19. But for the more than 3,000 families who lost loved ones to COVID-19, it was not an option. These chairs will always remain empty.”
He added: “Once we have reached this gloomy milestone, we owe it to those families. We must promise them that their loved ones will not die in vain. We must respect them by fighting this virus at every step. To protect each other.”
Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm also issued a statement saying Friday’s data was “a sad development” but “not surprising.”
“We’ve been warning for weeks about the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases,” he said. “We know that more cases lead to more hospitalizations and deaths, and today’s news confirms this tragic pattern.
“As we go through the next few weeks and a holiday season, contrary to what we have experienced, we need to redouble our efforts to protect each other – especially those at higher risk of developing a serious illness. All public activities are now more risky than they were a few weeks ago. the best way to slow down the spread is for people to stay at home and stay away from gatherings with those outside our immediate household. “
Walz closed bars, restaurants and gyms for four weeks and banned gatherings with anyone outside the house.
However, he acknowledged that the ban on gatherings was largely unenforceable. How many people have adhered to Thanksgiving guidelines is likely to be discovered in the coming weeks based on the number of cases of the virus.
Sign up for the NEWS ADVERTISEMENT
