The Minnesota Department of Health on Friday reported 1,184 new COVID-19 cases in Minnesota along with 10 additional deaths. With the latest update, Minnesota surpassed 100,000 total COVID-19 cases in the same week the state surpassed 2,000 deaths from the pandemic.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz and state health leaders addressed the state's COVID-19 response on Friday in front of high school journalists.
"I think there's a lot of unclear information around the COVID-19 vaccine that's made a large number of people nervous," Walz said. "We're going to make sure here in Minnesota we communicate the safety of this and how our healthcare agencies roll this out when the time of releasing a vaccine arrives."
Minnesota Department of Education Deputy Commissioner Heather Mueller told the students that a vaccine isn't the only way the students statewide could fully return to in-person learning.
"We have to think about all the other mitigating factors that we can control that will put students back into schools," Mueller said. "Things like facemasks, not going to parties, not having activities, and clumping into groups. It's not going to continue as it always has been. The 2020-2021 school year is not going to be normal."
Mueller sent a message to adults in Minnesota and their role in schools.
"What don't want is to have our students impacted negatively because of the behavior of adults and what we have always been able to do," said Mueller.
Friday's update came on the heels of President Donald Trump tweeting that he and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, both tested positive for COVID-19. President Trump visited Duluth on Wednesday.
Several Minnesota political figures, including Minnesota majority leader Paul Gazelka, are in quarantine after having been in contact with the president.
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As of Friday, COVID-19 had hospitalized 7,793 people in Minnesota and placed 2,156 individuals into intensive care.
News of President Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis reaffirmed a message sent by US Surgeon General Jerome Adams during the WCCO Morning News with Dave Lee.
"It doesn't matter who you are, and I hope everyone sees that now, this virus can affect you, and will infect you," Adams said.
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The statewide death toll stands at 2,059. The 10 deaths reported in the last day are all of individuals 60 years of age or older.
Seven of them coming from those living in long-term care facilities or assisted living.