At his September 3rd briefing update, Governor Tim Walz warned Minnesotans that we may be at a COVID-19 tipping point.
“We have stayed at a relatively manageable—approximately 5.3, 5.4 percent positivity rate. That number was under five until the last several weeks. It has been creeping up in recent weeks. What we know is that once you get above that number and community spread starts to go, there is a very fine line of a tipping point,” said Governor Walz
When Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus task force coordinator, visited our state at the end of August, she noted that what she’s seeing here is similar to what she saw in Arizona at the end of July.
That’s when cases in the southwestern state began to surge and hospitals and morgues quickly reached capacity.
What did Dr. Birx think was fueling Minnesota’s recent rise?
In many cases, just those small gatherings that make summer so enjoyable. Backyard barbecues. Evenings gathered around the fire pit with neighbors and friends.
“We’re at a tipping point, a potential tipping point, but we still possess the capacity to push back in the right direction. But again it’s not going to be any mandate. It’s not going to be anything we necessarily say. It’s going to be behavior changes by Minnesotans that get a grip on this.” said Walz
Health Officials Conduct Compliance Checks on Dozens of Bars and Restaurants