COVID-19 deaths on the rise in the U.S., as hospitals fill up at alarming rate – CBS News

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the state's top health officials have urged residents to not be anything other than vigilant as the state's virus statistics continue to soar.

"Just because we want it over, does not make it over," Walz said Monday.

The governor called on Minnesotans to avoid large gatherings and to continue practicing social distancing. He added that the next couple of months will be crucial in the fight against the virus.

"We need to take action right now," he said.

Minnesota has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases since the start of the month, with health officials reporting at least 20 days where newly-reported infections were over 1,000. Two days saw totals breach 2,000 new cases.

With a 70% spike in hospitalizations in the last month, health officials worry about what's to come. The state hit a new daily high for hospitalizations with 614 the highest since May.

On Monday, President Trump's Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is sending 1,690,00 Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 antigen tests to Minnesota. The rapid point of care tests, which can diagnose coronavirus infection in as little as 15 minutes, will be distributed at the discretion of Gov. Walz "to support testing K-12 students, teachers, nursing home patients and staff, higher education, critical infrastructure, first responders, and other priorities as he deems fit."

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COVID-19 deaths on the rise in the U.S., as hospitals fill up at alarming rate - CBS News