ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - Governor Tim Walz has ordered a moratorium on evictions at rental properties in Minnesota, and is directing all businesses to notify the state about their current inventories of personal protective equipment. The governor says before we're done with coronavirus, every Minnesotan will be touched in some way. "The numbers run pretty high that, over the course of this, between 40 and 80 percent of Minnesotans will have become infected with COVID-19," said Walz. "The vast majority will recover without hospitalization. Those that need it, we need to ensure they're able to get it." Walz also ordered the [...]

ST. PAUL (KMHL) – Small businesses and nonprofits in Minnesota that have been affected by COVID-19 outbreak can apply for low-interest federal disaster loans of up to $2 million dollars. They can submit the application to the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program online. If you want more information on it – go to the SBA's website.

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - The Minnesota Health Department (MDH) reported the state's first death from COVID-19 over the weekend and said there are at least 169 confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide. MDH spokeswoman Kris Ehresmann says the actual number of cases confirmed likely only represent a fraction of the total number of actual cases. "I think the bottom line is that there is a lot of COVID-19 circulating in Minnesota," said Ehresmann. "That's why it's so important that people take the community mitigation measures seriously." On Saturday, Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order activating the Minnesota National Guard for assistance [...]

APPLETON (KMHL) – Three western Minnesota counties are looking at the possibility of converting the former Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton to a center to care for people who have coronavirus. According to the Swift County Monitor, Swift, Chippewa and Lac Qui Parle counties have asked the owner of the prison that closed in 2010 about using a portion of the facility exclusively for coronavirus patients. The plan would start with 11 rooms and could expand to 77 beds if needed.

MARSHALL (KMHL) – Local hospitals in southwest Minnesota are making more changes as COVID-19 continues to spread in Minnesota and across the country. Avera Medical Group is announcing additional changes that begin this week at Avera facilities in Marshall, Tyler, lake Benton, Ivanhoe, Granite Falls and at the Hendricks Community Hospital Association this week. According to a press release from Avera, clinics in these communities are developing separate well care and ill care areas to try and limit contact between individuals with any upper respiratory illness and those seeking care for routine, scheduled appointments. Avera says any patients with upper respiratory symptoms [...]

ST. PAUL (LEARFIELD) - The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today is reporting the first confirmed death of a Minnesota resident due to COVID-19. According to the Department of Health, the death occurred Thursday (March 19) in Ramsey County as a resident in their 80s who recently had tested positive for the virus. State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says the death underscores the importance of protecting our most vulnerable Minnesotans during the outbreak - including people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions. Malcolm is reminding Minnesota to cover their coughs and sneezes and to wash their hands frequently - [...]

ST. PAUL (KMHL) - Gov. Tim Walz is expected to participate in a press conference this afternoon at 2 p.m. Earlier today, the governor signed three executive orders to continue combating COVID-19. The orders are aimed at three things, the first is to prohibit retailers from price gouging during this peacetime emergency. The prohibition takes effect on Saturday. The order also encourages the public to report instances of price gouging by calling (651) 296-3353 or (800)-657-3787. The second order authorizes the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services to seek federal authority to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements for [...]

UNDATED (LEARFIELD) -   A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis shows young people should not assume they're immune, from severe cases of COVID-19. Early data from China suggested COVID-19 might seriously sicken or kill the elderly -- but spare the young. Stark new data from the United States and Europe suggests otherwise. The C-D-C analysis of U-S cases from February 12th to March 16th shows 38 percent of those sick enough to be hospitalized were younger than 55. Researchers said the data demonstrate that severe illness leading to hospitalization, including I-C-U admission and death, can occur in adults of any [...]