Coronavirus Updates: The Latest COVID-19 Headlines From April 2, 2020
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- On Wednesday, Minnesota saw its biggest single-day spike in the COVID-19 death toll, as health officials reported an additional five fatalities, bringing the state's total to 17. Meanwhile, gas prices in southern Minnesota dropped below $1 a gallon, and the governor's fishing opener was postponed. In international news, Wimbledon was canceled due to concerns over the novel coronavirus. It was the first time the tennis tournament has been canceled since World War II.
Here are the latest updates in the COVID-19 pandemic:
- 8:35 p.m.: President Trump has ordered 3M, by way of the Defense Production Act, to provide more N95 respirator masks to the United States.
- 7:34 p.m.: Minneapolis is closing public beaches and pools for the summer.
- 7:11 p.m.: The Minnesota Senate approved $47.5 million in funding for ventilators and face masks for healthcare workers.
- 3:41 p.m.: The Guthrie Theater cancels the rest of their 2019-2020 season.
- 3:00 p.m.: Positive cases of COVID-19 reaches 1 million worldwide.
- 2 p.m.: Gov. Tim Walz and state officials give update on COVID-19 response, say 11 of 18 deaths in the state involve someone in congregate care facilities. Walz also announced that health plans in Minnesota will waive any COVID-19 costs for anyone with commercial insurance.
- 1:42 p.m.: A Moorhead man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly coughing on a grocery store employee and blaming the COVID-19 outbreak on minorities.
- 1:15 p.m.: The Minnesota Department of Commerce Minnesota has announced that the Energy Assistance Program (EAP) has funds to help pay family's energy bills. Households have until July 1 to apply for the assistance if they have not already received help this season.
- 1:14 p.m.: Starkey Hearing Technologies says it's furloughing 10% of its global workforce.
- 11:16 a.m.: The Democrats say they're postponing their convention in Milwaukee from mid-July to the week of Aug. 17.
- 11 a.m.: Heath officials announce that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota has reached 742. Meanwhile, the death toll has climbed to 18.
- 10 a.m.:Vikings' Adam Thielen's foundation will donate $100K to families in need.
- 7:34 a.m.: Employment claims hit 6.6 million in the U.S. as layoffs accelerate amid the outbreak. Experts say as many as 20 million people could be out of work this summer.
- 7:22 a.m.:Bill Gates calls for nationwide social isolation policy to slow the spread of COVID-19.
- 6:34 a.m.:The Twins home opener was slated for Thursday against the Oakland A's, but the MLB season remains on hold amid the outbreak.
- 6 a.m.:According to a CBS News poll, half of Americans think the COVID-19 outbreak will get worse over the next month.
- 5:55 a.m.:The mayor of Los Angeles urges the city's residents to wear masks to combat the coronavirus when they go outside.
Coronavirus: Latest News | Community Resources | COVID-19 Info | Download Our App | CBSN Minnesota