Coronavirus Updates: The Latest COVID-19 Headlines From March 31, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On Monday, the coronavirus (COVID-19) death toll in Minnesota climbed to 10, and across the state public school students and educators began distance learning. Meanwhile, the number of cases in the U.S. climbed above 160,000. The country's epicenter, New York City, has seen more than 900 COVID-19-related deaths.

Here are the latest updates in the COVID-19 pandemic:

•  11:20 p.m.: For the tens of thousands of kids locked up in juvenile detention centers and other correctional facilities across America, experts have issued a gloomy warning: The coronavirus is coming.
•  10:20 p.m.: Gov. Tim Walz said most Minnesotans are taking social distancing seriously, but there's some areas that need work, including metro lakes.
•  10 p.m.: Researchers in Minnesota have been hard at work developing a new weapon against the coronavirus outbreak – COVID-19 antibody tests. Experts say they could be key to fighting the disease.
•  8:01 p.m.: The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities announced Tuesday they will begin offering free weekly meal packages to kids and their families due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
•  7:01 p.m.: Senate Republicans announces COVID-19 response working group to address COVID-19 related bills and requests.
• 6:39 p.m.: With $349 Billion in emergency small business capital cleared, SBA and treasury begin unprecedented public-private mobilization effort to distribute funds.
• 6:21 p.m.: M Health Fairview informed employees that it expects to reduce hours for some staff beginning April 6 and continuing through May 3.
• 4:28 p.m.: HealthPartners expands mental health care access through video visits, 2,000 clinicians trained in three days across multiple areas of care.
• 4:28 p.m.: Students at the University of Minnesota criticize the school for only refunding $1,200 for their spring semester, even though tuition at the university costs roughly $5,000 a term.
• 4:17 p.m.: According to the Met Council, travel in Minnesota declines by 70%.
• 3:15 p.m.:Metro Transit says it will continue to transport unsheltered individuals to safe havens.
• 2:15 p.m.: Officials are scrambling to set up 2,750 more hospital beds across Minnesota to handle the anticipated surge in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks.
• 2 p.m.: Gov. Tim Walz and MDH officials give update on COVID-19 response in Minnesota. Follow Pat Kessler's tweets.
• 1:22 p.m.: The Waseca Public School District is turning its school buses into "mobile learning stations" equipped with wireless internet connections to serve its students who lack internet access in their homes.
• 1:21 p.m.: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says smokers and e-cigarette users could expect a more severe infection of COVID-19, if contracted.
• 12 p.m.: The number of coronavirus deaths in the United States -- more than 3,400 -- topped China's reported death toll Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
• 11:30 a.m.: CNN anchor Chris Cuomo says he tested positive for COVID-19.
• 11 a.m.: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota reaches 629, with two more deaths reported. The state's death toll is now at 12.
• 9:04 a.m.: The U.S. has recorded its highest one-day death toll from the novel coronavirus. More than 500 people were reported dead from COVID-19 in the 24 hours leading up to Tuesday morning.
• 6 a.m.: Some Whole Foods employees are asking their fellow workers to prepare for a "sick out" strike Tuesday. It's unclear if workers in Minnesota are taking part.
• 5:42 a.m.: The coronavirus outbreak in the United States is on pace to become the biggest and deadliest in the world.
• 4:27 a.m.: Hundreds of stranded Americans left Nepal on a repatriation flight Tuesday, days after a complete lockdown was imposed in the Himalayan nation.

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