The national COVID-19 map has turned upside-down in one way, with Minnesota and some other northern states reporting more growth in cases over the past two weeks than southern and western states hard-hit by the pandemic this summer.
Minnesota’s average daily count of new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased 11% over the past two weeks while daily counts have declined 24% in Arizona and 16% in Texas, according to the COVID Exit Strategy website.
Whether Minnesota will see the surge in deaths and hospitalizations that those states experienced is an open question, though state health officials hope earlier social distancing and mask-wearing efforts will make a difference. But if COVID-19 is a roller coaster, then Minnesota is one of the last cars going over the point of no return. Continue reading.