Minneapolis halts water shut-offs, says water supply is safe

Minneapolis is halting water shut-offs for the next month, boosting its computer systems against cyberattacks and providing police and firefighters with masks as part of its efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

It's unclear whether anyone in the city has tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the rapidly spreading virus. Minnesota health officials announced Friday that three people in Hennepin County have confirmed cases, but they aren't specifying where those people are.

"The state Health Department is informing us of ... further information about the cases, but because we want to protect their confidentiality and not have people sought out because they have been discovered to have the virus, we're not sharing further information," Gretchen Musicant, commissioner of the city's Health Department, said at a news conference Friday afternoon.

As President Donald Trump declared a national emergency and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency Friday, Minneapolis officials sought to prepare the public without overreacting.

"There is temptation to flip a switch, completely shut down, just ride it out for the next 30 to 60 days," Mayor Jacob Frey said. "But public health research and quality emergency operations planning tells us it is best not to take dramatic action without being based on solid rationale."

City officials said they are in regular communication with state and federal health officials. Frey said residents should expect to see response efforts ramp up and then ramp back down as the virus ebbs and flows.

"We will see the coronavirus in our city. It is likely that many will fall ill," Frey said. But he said the city will work to continue providing key services.

Like several other cities, Minneapolis announced on Friday that, for the next month, it will not shut off people's water because of their inability to pay their bills. Health officials have said hand washing is key to preventing the virus' spread.

City leaders also sought to reassure the public that the city's water supply is safe, and its treatment plant can operate with as few as 10 people staffing it.

City officials are evaluating which public meetings they should hold and which ones should be postponed or conducted online.

Interim City Coordinator Mark Ruff said they are evaluating which employees can work remotely if needed, noting that about a third of the city's workforce — police and firefighters, among others — must be in the community to do their jobs. First responders are receiving masks and instructions on how many times they can be reused, city officials said.

Council members are beginning to weigh in with some of their priorities for the city's response. They received a briefing Friday morning. The City Council initially voted to close the meeting to the public but reversed its decision after the Star Tribune objected.

Multiple council members asked what the city can do to ensure that people can get toilet paper, medicine and other supplies as local stores run out.

Musicant said she believes some of that shopping is driven by fear, noting that it's a "time of uncertainty."

She said she hopes the city will emphasize the importance of community, encouraging people to also consider the needs of others.

Some council members expressed a desire to partner with a philanthropic organization to help people who have lost wages or can't get food amid the virus concerns. Others said they want partner agencies to hold off on evictions or they want to increase outreach efforts to communities that lack internet access or don't speak English.

The council plans to discuss coronavirus preparation efforts again next week during at least two public meetings.

Liz Navratil • 612-673-4994