Posted at 9:29 a.m. Updated at 2:11 p.m.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
STATE UPDATES
The Minnesota Department of Health numbers, as of Monday, include almost 47,000 tested for COVID-19 with 2,470 positive, an increase of 114 cases since yesterday.
Almost half of them, 1,202, have recovered to the point they no longer need to be isolated. There have been 143 deaths due to complications of COVID-19, up nine from yesterday, and a total of 602 hospitalizations. There are currently 237 Minnesotans hospitalized for COVID complications, with 126 in the ICU, an increase of ten since yesterday.
Gov. Tim Walz will update the state in an address at 2 p.m. Outstate media and members of the public can view the address via the live YouTube channel.
A mask drive is currently underway in Minnesota.
On Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Minnesotans can deliver homemade masks to their local fire department. Fire departments will then deliver the masks to local congregate living facilities for their employees and residents to wear.
“Those working in congregate living facilities are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gov. Walz. “While homemade masks will not replace personal protective equipment, they go a long way in preventing the wearer from infecting others. I am asking Minnesota’s crafters, sewers, and creatives to step up and help out their community.”
Face mask design patterns and instructions can be found online.
Bars and restaurants can now sell a six-pack of beer, hard seltzer or hard cider, or one 750 mL bottle of wine, per takeout order, after the Minnesota legislature approved the measure and Gov. Walz signed it. The expansion of sales for restaurants and bars will last as long as the executive order closing dine-in restaurants and bars stays in effect.
Multiple cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the JBS pork processing plant in Worthington. The company has implemented a voluntary indefinite shutdown.
LOCAL UPDATES
Sanford Health is now predicting a peak, or surge of patients who may need COVID-19 treatment in a medical setting, around Labor Day. Read more about it here. There has not been a positive COVID-19 test confirmed at the Bemidji location for at least two weeks. As of Friday, there have been 288 negative tests, seven positive (with five having a primary residence in Beltrami County), and 20 were pending at that time.
Sanford Bemidji has changed its Walk-in Clinic Hours. Beginning today, the Walk-in Clinic at 1611 Anne Street will be open Mondays through Sundays, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. All current services provided by the clinic will still be available during the new hours.
Gov. Tim Walz opened up golf courses per executive order late last week. Bemidji Town and Country Club opened Sunday. Read more about their new golfing procedures amid COVID-19 here.
MDH local numbers reflect little change in the COVID-19 numbers for the immediate area as of Monday: Beltrami County has five cases, Cass County has four, Clearwater and Polk counties each have three, Itasca has two cases, and Mahnomen, Koochiching and Roseau counties each have one case.
