Category: Covid-19

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - We hear every day about healthcare workers on the front lines, But what is it really like for those working inside the COVID-19 units at a hospital?

Joseph Fields has been working at Baptist Health Lexington for 11 years and as a nurse for the last two. But, not even that decade of experience could prepare him for the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think the first year I started there H1N1 was big, but nothing compared to this," Fields said.

He has to suit up at the beginning of every shift.

"So as soon as we get on our unit, we get a mask and hospital scrubs," Fields said. "And then we get our helmet and our N95 and then we go change."

It's a job that has always been about taking care of people. But, now that those people are fighting for their lives alone, Fields said patient care takes on a whole new meaning.

"The hardest thing right now is with having to wear all the PPE, people can't see our faces and they're intubated and sedated and they are terrified," Fields said. "That's why we're there though, we act as their family when they're not there, and we really try to spend as much time as we can with every patient."

And when his shift is done, the challenges follow him home as he does what he can to disinfect from head to toe to limit exposure risk to his roommates.

"I also try to like just keep it all contained, all together, so I don't infect anybody else," Fields said. "I live with two other people so it's definitely a little bit trying right now."

Because of his inside look at how this virus affects families, he has a message for those not following social distancing guidelines on the outside.

"Looking at my patients in the ICU, I just don't want that to be my relative, and I don't want that to be somebody else's relative," Fields said. "So just the best advice is to stay at home and wash your hands man, the best thing you can do."

Fields said they aren't overrun with patients right now, but Baptist Health has been proactive in closing non-essential units to make room for more COVID-19 patients.

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Lexington nurse working in a COVID-19 unit talks about challenges at work and home - WKYT

Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Issues Executive Order Requiring All People in New York to Wear Masks or Face Coverings in Public | Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Skip to main content April 15, 2020

Albany, NY

State Will Begin Conducting Antibody Tests Prioritizing Frontline Workers BeginningThis Week-2,000 Tests Per Day Using a Finger Prick Test

Announces State Will Give 100 Ventilators to Michigan and 50 Ventilators to Maryland

Issues Executive Order Requiring Nursing Homes to Inform Family Members of Residents of COVID-19 Cases

Issues Executive Order Allowing Individuals Assisting with COVID-19 Response to Stay in a Hotel in New York City for More Than 28 Days without Becoming a Tenant

SUNY and CUNY Colleges Using 3D Printers to Produce Personal Protective Equipment for Frontline Medical Workers

Confirms 11,571 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to213,779; New Cases in 43 Counties

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he will issue an Executive Order requiring all people in New York to wear a mask or a face covering when out in public and in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, such as on public transportation. The Executive Order will go into effect on Friday, April 17th.

Governor Cuomo also announced the state will begin conducting antibody tests, prioritizing frontline health care workers, first responders and other essential workers, beginning this week. Using a new finger prick method the state will test up to 2,000 New Yorkers per day. The state is also asking the FDA for expedited approval of a finger prick antibody test that could test up to 100,000 New Yorkers a day. Additionally, the state is continuing to engage with other partners including hospital labs and private companies to bring mass antibody testing to scale statewide.

The Governor also announced the state will give 100 ventilators to Michigan and 50 ventilators to Maryland.

Audio Photos

The Governor will also issue an Executive Order requiring nursing homes toreport positive COVID-19 cases and deaths to the families of those who are living in the nursing home facility within 24 hours.The order will include adult home and other assisted living facilities. Previously, State Department of Health issued guidance asking these facilities to communicate this information to families; this new order makes that guidance mandatory.

The Governor will also issue an Executive Order allowing individuals assisting with the COVID-19 response or individuals who have been displaced due to COVID-19 to stay in a hotel in New York City for more than 28 days without becoming a tenant.

Another part of getting to the new normal is continuing to stop the spread of the virus, and to do that I am issuing an Executive Order that says all people in public must wear a mask or face covering.

The Governor also announced that the State University of New York and The City University of New York are using 3D printers to produce critical personal protective equipment for New York's frontline health workers. SUNY campuses are producing about 2,100 face shields a day amongst 13 SUNY campuses, its four Cornell colleges, and its four university centers. Teams at six CUNY colleges have adapted their 3D printers and associated materials to make elements that are used in protective face shields for local hospitals. The face shields are being donated to medical teams across the state, as resources are needed by hospitals, nursing homes and testing sites.

"As we continue to flatten the curve and slow the infection rate of the virus we have to build a bridge from where we are now to the reopening of the economy, and the single best tool to do that is large scale testing,"Governor Cuomo said."We have done more tests than any other state in the nation - more than 500,000 in over a one-month period - but we need to do more and we need the help of the federal government to get people back to work and begin our return to a new normal. We are going to begin conducting antibody testing for our frontline workers and we are currently able to test 2,000 people per day, and we are asking the FDA for approval of a finger prick test that would allow us to test 100,000 people per day. Another part of getting to the new normal is continuing to stop the spread of the virus, and to do that I am issuing an Executive Order that says all people in public must wear a mask or face covering."

Finally, the Governor confirmed 11,571 additional cases of novel coronavirus, bringing the statewide total to 213,779 confirmed cases in New York State. Of the 213,779 total individuals who tested positive for the virus, the geographic breakdown is as follows:

County

Total Positive

New Positive

Albany

548

13

Allegany

28

0

Broome

153

7

Cattaraugus

32

0

Cayuga

36

3

Chautauqua

24

1

Chemung

69

5

Chenango

71

3

Clinton

45

0

Columbia

96

12

Cortland

23

1

Delaware

46

1

Dutchess

2,048

114

Erie

1,751

83

Essex

12

0

Franklin

13

0

Fulton

24

2

Genesee

76

0

Greene

73

7

Hamilton

3

0

Herkimer

40

1

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Amid Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Governor Cuomo Issues Executive Order Requiring All People in New York to Wear Masks or Face Coverings in Public -...

LOWELL Stephen Lemire said he called Northwood Rehabilitation & Health Care Center three or four times when his mother, a 94-year-old resident, first developed COVID-19 symptoms.

The nursess station line would ring, but no one would pick up. When someone did, the Tyngsboro resident was put on hold for long periods of time, he said.

No one was answering. Period, Lemire said. He wanted to know what the deal was, and when his mothers test results would be in.

Just over a week ago, Lemires mother, Rita, tested positive for COVID-19. She is currently holding her own in isolation within the nursing home, but Lemire still worries about her care.

Northwood residents have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus, according to spokesman Tim Brown. Last week, the National Guard tested at least a dozen Northwood residents for COVID-19, according to Brown.

We are devastated that patients in our care have contracted this virus, however we do not have any associated deaths to report, Brown said.

A number of health care workers have also tested positive for the virus, Brown added. As of press time, Brown did not report the number of residents and staff who have tested positive.

It has concerned me completely that this nursing home is totally not transparent, Lemire said. It is resistant to everything. Its acting as though theres a cover-up where there doesnt need to be a cover-up

By speaking with his mother and other Northwood staff, Lemire said he has learned that a number of employees have called out sick. He said there are only about two nursing aides currently working on his mothers wing.

No one is coming to respond to my mother when she is putting on her call button, Lemire said. There have been times when his mother has called a family member, who then had to call the nursing home to get assistance.

The number of Northwood health care workers in self-quarantine has posed staffing challenges at the nursing home, Brown said.

We are doing all we can to fully staff the center, and there have been no interruptions in care at this time. Staff members initially afflicted are already beginning to return to resume their important roles, Brown said in a statement.

The Lowell Public Health Department communicates with the citys nursing homes daily and provides them with personal protective equipment, according to Interim Director JoAnn Keegan. One of Lowells two public health nurses regularly discusses infection control, specific cases and family communication with the facilities, Keegan said.

There is monitoring, there is assistance with attempting to isolate quickly and identify quickly those that are symptomatic, Keegan said.

Several nursing homes in the area have reported more than one case of COVID-19, according to Keegan.

Last week, local elected representatives called for transparency at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton, where 14 residents have died of COVID-19. As of Monday, 52 of Life Cares 75 current residents had tested positive for the virus.

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, the Littleton Board of Selectmen, state Sen. Jamie Eldridge and state Rep. James Arciero sent a letter to Life Care Centers of America President Beecher Hunter requesting that he immediately alert public health authorities of any confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 contamination within your network, including cases in which flu-like symptoms are exhibited.

Brown said Northwood is doing all we can to protect our residents and staff. The nursing home is cleaned multiple times per day with a focus on frequently touched areas, and only direct care staff enter residents rooms, he said.

And we are monitoring our personal protective equipment and requesting additional equipment from the state to ensure our staff has the protection they need to keep them and residents safe, he continued.

Brown added that Northwood holds weekly conference calls with families, and provides weekly email and individual updates.

This is about a virus that were trying to get a handle on, state Rep. Thomas Golden said. But when you have some of the most vulnerable population, you know, housed in the same area, thats something that we need to take into consideration.

Lemire said he has considered taking his mother out of Northwood. But right now, he believes she is safest there in isolation, as opposed to a hospital where she might be exposed to other illnesses.

For the time being, shes fine where she is, he said.

Two or three key staff people do a wonderful job caring for Lemires mother, he said. But heaven forbid these people who are really burned-out get sick, then thats it, he continued.

We encourage any residents and family members to contact us with any questions they have about the care we are offering. Our commitment is to be as transparent as possible and work to address any issues that arise, Brown said.

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Northwood Rehabilitation and Health Care Center significantly impacted by COVID-19 - Lowell Sun

MIDLAND, Tx (KOSA) -- Twenty percent of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Midland County are either workers or residents at the same nursing home. The question is, how long have officials known the Midland Medical Lodge had an outbreak?

CBS7 reached out to the lodge, and spoke with Assistant Director of Operations Greg Fuller.

Fuller said the first employee with a confirmed case stopped working after March 27, and received a positive test result on April 3.

We asked Fuller why it took until April 14 for the public to find out that case, and three other previously confirmed cases, all worked at the same medical care facility?

That would for sure be a health department question, Fuller said. I dont know what determines when they release that information.

So we asked the Midland Health Department, and they shared the following statement:

We made sure to report on those cases as we have with all of our confirmed cases. Up until the release, there was low concern for the spread among residents due to the mitigation efforts and infection control guidelines that Midland Medical Lodge has in place. Once we were made aware of the positive residents yesterday, we made the announcement to remain transparent and inform the public.

According to the health department, the four newest cases tied to the nursing home, three elderly residents and one worker, are all hospitalized.

The Midland Medical Lodge is a 120-bed facility that has both long term care and short term rehab residents.

Majority of our residents are in the high risk category, Fuller said. Our goal is to protect our residents. This is something that weve never dealt with before, this COVID-19, and its a scary thing. But we are very confident that our systems are in place, and working with others in the infection control world has helped us tremendously.

The medical lodge said it hasnt allowed any visitors since the middle of March.

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Nursing home says officials have known about possible COVID-19 outbreak for nearly two weeks - CBS7 News

A 58-year-old Crystal Lake woman is accused of intentionally coughing on officers who responded to an alleged domestic battery at her home.

Citing privacy reasons, Crystal Lake police declined to say whether Cynthia G. Ventrella previously tested positive for COVID-19 before she allegedly threatened to transmit it.

Officers responded about 1 a.m. Sunday to Ventrella's home in the 900 block of Alexandria Boulevard for a well-being check on an adult male. The caller reported hearing a potential domestic battery at the residence while she was on the other side of an open phone line, Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Thomas Kotlowski said.

Ventrella was arrested and charged with domestic battery after police say she caused several cuts and scratches to the man's face "through unknown means," according to a criminal complaint. She was additionally charged with aggravated assault to a peace officer and obstructing identification.

According to the criminal complaint, Ventrella gave police a false date of birth and middle name. She's also accused of coughing on the arresting officer "after receiving several warnings to stop coughing on the officers."

"She continued to cough once being placed under arrest and threatened to contaminate the officer with COVID-19 ...," according to the complaint.

Ventrella was released Monday from the McHenry County Jail without posting a monetary bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 16.

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Police: Crystal Lake woman coughed, threatened to give officers COVID-19 - Northwest Herald

The Coronavirus has prompted thousands of information security professionals to volunteer their skills in upstart collaborative efforts aimed at frustrating cybercriminals who are seeking to exploit the crisis for financial gain. Whether its helping hospitals avoid becoming the next ransomware victim or kneecapping new COVID-19-themed scam websites, these nascent partnerships may well end up saving lives. But can thisunprecedented level of collaboration survive the pandemic?

At least three major industry groups are working to counter the latest cyber threats and scams. Among the largest in terms of contributors is the COVID-19 Cyber Threat Coalition (CTC), which comprises rough 3,000 security professionals who are collecting, vetting and sharing new intelligence about new cyber threats.

Nick Espinosa, a self-described security fanatic, author and public speaker whos handling communications for the CTC, said the group does most of its work remotely via a dedicated Slack channel, where many infosec professionals seem eager to counter the gusto with which the cybercriminal community has sought to profit by exacerbating an already difficult situation.

A nurse or doctor cant do what we do, and we cant do what they do, Espinosa said. Weve seen a massive rise in threats and attacks against healthcare systems, but its worse if someone dies due to a malicious cyberattack when we have the ability to prevent that. A lot of people are involved because theyre emotionally attached to the idea of helping this critical infrastructure stay safe and online.

Using threat intelligence feeds donated by dozens of cybersecurity companies, the CTC is poring over more than 100 million pieces of data about potential threats each day, running those indicators through security products from roughly 70 different vendors. If at least 10 of those flag a specific data point such as a domain name as malicious or bad, it gets added to the CTCs blocklist, which is designed to be used by organizations worldwide for blocking malicious traffic.

For possible threats, meaning between five and nine vendors detect an indicator as bad, our volunteers manually verify that the indicator is malicious before including it in our blocklist, Espinosa said.

Another Slack-based upstart coalition called the COVID-19 CTI Leaguespans more than 40 countries and includes professionals in senior positions at such major companies as Microsoft Corp and Amazon.com Inc.

Mark Rogers, one of several people helping to manage the CTI Leagues efforts, told Reuters the top priority of the group is working to combat hacks against medical facilities and other frontline responders to the pandemic, as well as helping defendcommunication networks and services that have become essential as more people work from home.

The group is also using its web of contacts in internet infrastructure providers to squash garden-variety phishing attacks and another financial crime that is using the fear of COVID-19 or the desire for information on it to trick regular internet users, wrote Reuters Joe Menn.

Ive never seen this volume of phishing, Rogers told Reuters. I am literally seeing phishing messages in every language known to man.

Among the more mature organizations working to counter the threat from COVID-19 scammers is the Cyber Threat Alliance, a industry group founded in 2017 that counts among its members more than two dozen major cybersecurity firms that are all required to regularly share threat intelligence with other members.

One thing were paying attention to in addition to phishing and malware attacks is anything targeting stuff involved in the pandemic response, such as the manufacturers of protective gear, testing kits, or hospitals, CTA President Michael Daniel told KrebsOnSecurity. One of those organizations getting hit with ransomware now would be really bad, and we want to make sure if we see that were alerting and working with law enforcement.

Earlier this month, the international police network INTERPOL issued a warning to law enforcement in nearly 200 member countries, saying it had detected a significant increase in the number of attempted ransomware attacks against key organizations and infrastructure engaged in the virus response.

The alert came after several top ransomware gangs pledged a moratorium on attacking hospitals and other care centers for the near future. Nevertheless, these group have continued to target companies on the periphery of the pandemic response, including virus testing labs, N95 mask production facilities, and companies engaged in vaccine research.

The CTCs Espinoza said it would be a potentially fatal mistake to assume all cybercriminal groups might observe such a cease-fire.

We might have independent criminal groups saying they wont hit hospitals but theyll hit everyone else, but that doesnt prevent them from sending phishing emails and masquerading as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control, he said. These are people who have no problems locking out little old ladies out of their computers for 800 bucks, and of course there are state-sponsored hackers who love any opportunity to sow discord and disrupt things.

The CTAs Daniel said while its great to see so much voluntary collaboration between the cybersecurity industry, governments and law enforcement, hes been thinking a lot lately about how to sustain these relationships and networks once the urgency of the pandemic subsides.

Formerly special assistant to President Obama and cybersecurity coordinator on the National Security Council, Daniel said he sees preserving and enhancing this information sharing effort post-COVID as one of the biggest policy issues facing the federal government over the next few years.

Information sharing is easy to talk about, and hard to do in practice, Daniel said. I dont use the term public-private partnership because its been bandied about so much over the years that I dont know what it means anymore. Its probably best described as working together on an operation.'

What prevents private companies from working more closely and frequently with governments on operations to target cybercrime organizations and networks? Daniel said on the government side, there are real concerns that working with one or two particularly clueful or effective companies (versus all of them) might give the impression that the government is showing favoritism, or picking winners and losers in the market.

But you have to do that to some extent because the truth is some companies matter in this space, and a lot dont, Daniel said. The government has to accept that, determine what are the objective rules, and establish transparency so that [their efforts] arent seen as some secret club but as part of a normal process.

Daniel said governments in general also need to get more comfortable sharing information about operations targeting specific crime groups in advance of those actions.

The government has to figure out how to let the private sector in on some of the planning and preparation, he said. If you want [the cybersecurity industrys] help against certain targets, you have to tell us who they are ahead of time. But this goes against how governments operate in almost every way.

On the private sector side are issues of how for-profit companies can closely collaborate with the government without being perceived as potentially compromising the privacy and security of their customers, or as simply an agent of the government.

For companies, the question is how do you deal with the liability and other questions that come with that, Daniel said. These are very real impediments, and why I think we need to get past the endless discussions of public-private partnerships and start talking about what we can do to coordinate actions against these groups so we can have a more strategic impact on the adversary.

Tags: COVID-19 Cyber Threat Coalition, Cyber Threat Alliance, Joe Menn, Mark Rogers, Michael Daniel, Nick Espinosa

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 15th, 2020 at 11:28 amand is filed under The Coming Storm.You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Excerpt from:

COVID-19 Has United Cybersecurity Experts, But Will That Unity Survive the Pandemic? - Krebs on Security

Apple will donate a portion of sales from Product Red products to a COVID-19 relief fund, the company announced today. Product Red donations normally go toward fighting HIV/AIDS, but the organization has started directing money toward COVID-19 responses in light of the pandemic.

Now through September 30th, the tech giant will distribute some of the proceeds from the sale of Product Red gadgets and accessories to the Global Funds COVID-19 Response. This includes Apple accessories, like Apple Watch bands or iPhone cases, and iPhones, including the Product Red color variant of the recently announced iPhone SE, which is slated to launch on April 24th.

Product Red is an ongoing partnership between Red and major companies, like Apple, Nike, and Starbucks, to raise funds, spread awareness, and eradicate HIV/AIDS in African countries. However, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Apple said this new program will provide critical support in health systems that are impacted by the novel coronavirus.

In 2018, Apple said it had raised $200 million for Product Red and that it was the organizations largest corporate donor. Apple does not say how much money it redirects from each sale to the charity.

Apple has taken several actions to help address the pandemic, including partnering with Google to develop a contact tracking system for iOS and Android devices, which will share data through Bluetooth.

See more here:

Apple is donating Product Red proceeds to COVID-19 response efforts - The Verge

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. Drive-thru COVID-19 testing started in the Walmart parking lot on Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga Wednesday.

The most important thing you need to know about the testing site is that you need to make appointment online before you show-up. Walk-ups are not allowed.

Quest Diagnostics and Walmart teamed up to do this. New York State Police are there making sure things run smoothly. Wednesday was just a soft launch with appointments starting Wednesday afternoon. Thursday, appointments run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You're asked to get there no more than ten minutes before your appointment time.

Many of viewers have asked some great questions about the testing site.

Lyn asked, "Can anyone get tested?"

Not quite. While you can make the appointment online yourself, tests are limited to people showing coronavirus symptoms, all health care providers, and first responders.

Another person said, "I've scheduled an appointment for myself already. How soon will I get the results? Are they the 24-hour tests?"

Quest says turnaround time is typically less than two days from the time of pick-up but can vary. Some people, including healthcare workers with symptoms, might get their results in less than a day.

Ralph asked whether you need a script from your doctor.

No, you don't. You can get an appointment online without your doctor's help.

Paula asked, "Can ANYONE with both a fever of 100.4 or over AND a cough/shortness of breath get tested?"

Any health care worker, first responder, or anyone showing coronavirus symptoms as defined by the CDC can make an appointment.

Brian wanted to know if this is testing to see who has, and has not had, the virus. Being an essential worker, he says he'd love to know for sure that he's already had this virus back in January.

If you aren't a healthcare worker or first responder, you have to have symptoms now to get an appointment.

When you get to your appointment, you'll get a nasal swab test that you'll do yourself in your car while a trained medical volunteer watches you. When you're done, you'll simply drop the sealed sample into a container.

And, you might be wondering what you need to bring with you. You need to have your appointment confirmation, along with your insurance card, and a valid photo ID.

Chuck wants to know if this includes the immediate family members of healthcare workers and first responders who are in the same household.

Quest says to qualify for a test if you aren't a healthcare worker or first responder, you have to be symptomatic, as defined by the CDC.

Brian also asked, "Is it only for people with symptoms or is it to find out if you have already had it? Would they consider making a special section for essential workers to get in and get out that have been out in the public since the beginning, as I am sure its probably tough to get an appointment."

Right now, it's just for people in the three groups we mentioned.

Quest said earlier this week, it's now able to do 45,000 tests a day.

RELATED: Quest Diagnostics and Walmart partner on drive-thru COVID-19 testing facility

RELATED: Roswell Park to offer plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients to severe cases

RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: COVID-19 drive thru testing temporarily set up in Amherst

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Drive-thru COVID-19 testing site opens in Cheektowaga - WGRZ.com

Apple has responded to a Senate letter asking questions about its COVID-19 screening tools. The company sought to allay concerns around an app and website that it launched in late March, built in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the White House. It promises that the tools include strong privacy and security protections and that Apple will never sell the data it collects.

The letter answers several questions posed by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). Among other things, it reveals the terms of Apples agreement with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These include prohibitions on sharing any identifying user data with the CDC.

Apple senior government affairs director Timothy Powderly also tells the Senate that its tools arent covered by the health privacy law HIPAA. HIPAA governs when a company can disclose data to a third party, and Apple says there arent any third parties involved in collecting the information, since data are entered into the website and app directly by users.

The screening tool doesnt ask for a users name, but it requests information about their age, travel history, possible exposure to infected people, and other details that could determine whether they should be tested for the novel coronavirus. Apple says it collects only the information necessary to run the app, including analytics like crash reports, and if it decides to store and share more data in the future, it would get user consent.

These tools are separate from and far less complex than the COVID-19 contact tracing system that Apple is developing alongside Google. That tool is set to launch in mid-May and raises its own set of privacy questions although theyre ones that both companies have put a lot of work into addressing.

In a statement to The Verge, Menendez said that he appreciated the replies. Apples response reflects a commitment to data privacy and the importance of taking proactive steps to protect it. I expect them to live up to this commitment and I will be there to hold them accountable if they fail, he said. I would hope that the Department of Health and Human Services and the Trump Administration as a whole follow similar steps to be more transparent and, for example, publish the full agreements they have signed with tech companies such as Apple.

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Apple responds to senators privacy fears over COVID-19 screening tools - The Verge

Updated 5:33 p.m.

Gov. Tim Walz on Monday signaled the state planned to move into a more aggressive posture to test for COVID-19 and trace and isolate those infected as part of the next phase of reopening parts of the economy.

Minnesota has tested just under 40,000 Minnesotans since the pandemic began but we need to be testing 40,000 a week or more, Walz told reporters during an afternoon briefing.

The governor tempered his ongoing warnings about an expected surge in cases and frustration over securing laboratory supplies and testing gear with guarded optimism the states health system would be ready to handle the load and that economically there are plans to move us back to a more sustainable place.

He also said he supported allowing bars to sell beer and wine for off-site consumption and would sign a bill once the Legislature approves it.

Walz said his people were also working on guidance about outdoor activities, including golf and fishing, and that he hoped for an answer soon. "The more we're able to open some of these things it will let off a little bit of steam."

Walzs remarks came hours after state health officials reported no new deaths in Minnesota tied to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to Sunday. That means the death toll remains at 70. The number of people in intensive care also remained stable from Sunday at 74.

The Health Department reported 1,650 people testing positive for COVID-19 since the outbreak began, with just over half recovered to the point they no longer need to be isolated.

While he didnt have details, Walz made it clear that the state was preparing a big push on testing as part of the effort to restart the economy, which has been hit hard the past month.

He cautioned that it was too early to decide if his stay-at-home order will go beyond May 4 and that he could not set a date yet for when restaurants and bars businesses hurt badly by the virus and the stay-at-home order intended to slow its spread but that he said he envisioned a rolling back into the economy as testing efforts jump.

Among the other updates Monday:

Walz and state officials said the states executive branch would put a hiring freeze in place for jobs not directly related to COVID-19 and that the governor and his commissioners would take a 10 percent pay cut through the rest of the year.

The Metro Mobility transportation service in the Twin Cities region would begin offering health care workers free door-to-door transportation to and from work, 24 hours a day.

Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said data that was provided over the weekend on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths did not offer an "apples to apples" comparison of changes from prior days. The current totals have been updated.

The disease continues its spread into rural parts of Minnesota. Red Lake, Todd and Rock counties reported their first confirmed coronavirus cases Sunday, although the Health Department reported no new counties on Monday.

Officials continue to caution the virus is much more widespread than what the daily updates indicate, with yet-undiscovered cases potentially higher than 150,000.

Walz on Monday also extended his peacetime emergency order for another 30 days, through May 13. Walz invoked the peacetime emergency on March 13, allowing him to take executive actions to deal with the coronavirus.

The order extension drew a rebuke from some House Republicans, who say theyll try to overturn it this week in the Legislature.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. said Monday it plans to temporarily idle Northshore Mining in northeastern Minnesota. The company plans to temporarily idle production at Northshore by mid-April with a planned restarted by August.

Cliffs said it will work down current inventory levels from the mine and continue to ship iron ore to fulfill its agreements with steel customers.

In a statement, CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the Cleveland-based company has evaluated market conditions and the extraordinary disruptions in manufacturing and steel production in North America due to the impact of the COVID-19 market shock.

Northshore Mining officials said about 470 employees will be laid off, with the remaining 100 employees kept on to maintain the yard and dock crews to load vessels, KBJR-TV reported. The company will also idle Tilden Mine in Michigan by the end of April, with a planned restart in July.

The Associated Press

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office says the jail has detected its first confirmed case of COVID-19.

In a news release, sheriff's office spokesperson Rob Allen said a man exhibiting symptoms of the virus was booked into the jail last Friday. The man was tested and isolated pending the results of the test. Allen said after the man tested positive, he was notified about his status and was released to isolate at home.

Allen said the jail had already implemented safety precautions to prevent an outbreak including suspending visits, training jail staff on sanitation and the use of personal protective gear and isolating symptomatic inmates or those who may have been exposed to the virus.

The state Department of Corrections said on Monday an inmate at the Willow River correctional facility has also tested positive for the coronavirus.

As of Sunday, 11 inmates at the Moose Lake prison have tested positive. Moose Lake had the first confirmed cases of the coronavirus in a Minnesota adult prison. Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell has said the release of some state prisoners because of the coronavirus could happen as early as this week.

Brandt Williams | MPR News and The Associated Press

Gov. Tim Walz on Friday signed an executive order directing the state Department of Health to develop a protocol for sharing information about confirmed COVID-19 cases with first responders.

Walz's order allows for the addresses where a COVID-19 case has been identified and only where a patient is still contagious to be disclosed to 911 dispatchers and first responders. Names of affected individuals and other identifying information will not be provided to local officials.

Walz wrote in his order that first responders need to assume everyone they meet could be a coronavirus carrier but the order allows for more protection.

"This decision is not taken lightly," Walz wrote in the order. "We must ensure that this health information is disclosed only to those who have an emergent need to know it, and we must implement safeguards to ensure that no one abuses this data. Minnesota has a strong tradition of protecting the private data of its citizens. This is reflected in the penalties imposed for unlawful use of private data provided by the (Minnesota Government Data Practices Act), which will continue to apply to the data shared under this Executive Order."

The order mandates that "the shared data must remain confidential, be encrypted in transit, (and be) provided only to the minimum number of people necessary."

Minnesota U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber of Minnesota's 8th District, a retired police officer, was among those who had backed such an order.

"As we continue to wage war against COVID-19, it is only right that the law enforcement officers, first responders, and firefighters on the front lines of this fight have all the information they need to protect and prepare themselves," he said in a news release.

MPR News staff

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has temporarily closed Grand Portage State Park in far northeastern Minnesota.

That's at the request of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The park is located on the Grand Portage Reservation.

The closure is in effect until at least May 4.

Meanwhile much of Fort Snelling State Park in the Twin Cities is closed due to flooding along the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers.

Other state parks remain open for day use, but state park campgrounds, lodging and visitor centers are closed because of COVID-19.

MPR News staff

Minnesota farmers to feel fallout from closure of major pork processing plant: For Minnesota, one of the biggest pork-producing states in the country, the plant plays a significant role in hog farms' sales. It would be pure speculation as to what the price impact for farmers is going to be starting this coming week, but I see zero scenario that its not negative. Its just a question of how much, said David Preisler, CEO of the Minnesota Pork Producers Association.

Legislature to act on new coronavirus bill with others in works: The Legislature has already passed three bills with financial help for health providers, first responders and small businesses. The latest plan is more policy focused.

Local government goes virtual during pandemic: The coronavirus pandemic, and efforts to slow its spread, has shuttered many government buildings. But cities and counties need to continue providing essential services, so many local governments are moving to remote, virtual meetings.

Minneapolis officials say too many are ignoring posted virus signs: City officials may get tougher on people who ignore social distancing rules. However, Minneapolis police are not eager to issue fines.

Health officials for weeks have been increasingly raising the alarm over the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States. The disease is transmitted through respiratory droplets, coughs and sneezes, similar to the way the flu can spread.

Government and medical leaders are urging people to wash their hands frequently and well, refrain from touching their faces, cover their coughs, disinfect surfaces and avoid large crowds, all in an effort to curb the virus rapid spread.

The state of Minnesota has temporarily closed schools, while administrators work to determine next steps, and is requiring a temporary closure of all in-person dining at restaurants, bars and coffee shops, as well as theaters, gyms, yoga studios and other spaces in which people congregate in close proximity.

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