Gov. Tim Walz extended Minnesota's peacetime emergency status on Monday, and his administration announced his salary will be cut 10% for the rest of the year.

With increasing pressure to address the economic ramifications of the coronavirus and related stay-at-home order, Walz shared what he thinks is required to open up the state to more commerce while keeping residents healthy.

Another 29 people tested positive for COVID-19, but no new deaths from the disease were reported Monday in Minnesota.

The number of people who tested positive for the novel coronavirus reached a total of 1,650 known cases on Monday morning and 70 people have died, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Sunday the number of known cases jumped by 194 in a day, the largest one-day jump in confirmed cases since the virus was first detected in Minnesota.

That's because the Sunday report included more than 24 hours' worth of data and Monday's report included less than 24 hours' worth, said Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann on a Monday call with reporters. Health officials are working to even out the reports after the Easter holiday.

Balancing the economy and public health

On the Monday call, state leaders discussed steps to reopen the economy so long as Minnesota can test, trace and isolate people in contact with the coronavirus.

They also announced Walz, his chief of staff and Cabinet agency commissioners will take a 10% pay cut for the rest of the year and there's a hiring freeze in the executive branch, with exceptions for jobs important to the pandemic response, said Myron Frans, commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget. The state will release an unscheduled budget projection in May to plan for changes caused by the pandemic.

"We believe we're working in the right direction to save lives," Walz said Monday. "Yes, we all want to open up tomorrow, but people will die if we do that."

No new patients were hospitalized or placed in intensive care on Monday, and 157 remain in the hospital.

There was no change Monday in the number of people with COVID-19 who could leave their isolation. That remains at 842.

How are we doing on tests?

In Minnesota, 38,427 people have been tested for COVID-19, with priority given to specific groups, including health care workers, hospitalized people, dialysis patients as well as residents or staff in congregate living centers like prisons or nursing homes. The state conducted about 25% of the tests in the public health lab and the rest were done by external laboratories.

FROM SUNDAY: Minnesota COVID-19 cases jump by 194 in 1 day; death toll hits 70

Walz wants Minnesota to increase testing capacity to 5,000 a day in coming weeks.

The state is working with many in-state partners to get tests for the disease and tests for antibodies, including all the needed parts of the tests and protective equipment for those who administer the tests, he said Monday.

"This is going to be a hard lift because of the shortage of all the things that are out there," Walz said. "Those that keep asking, 'What's the plan to reopen?' The plan to reopen is very, very clear: test, trace, isolate, open back up and continue this until we get a vaccine."

He said there's reason for optimism, but he cautioned against complacency.

Story continues below

What caused the current infections?

Here's how COVID-19 patients likely contracted the virus, according to the Minnesota Health Department:

Travel — 25%

Congregate Living Setting (staff or resident) — 20%

Health Care (staff) — 13%

Community (known contact with confirmed case) — 9%

Community (no known contact with confirmed case) — 16%

Unknown/missing information — 17%

In Central Minnesota, case numbers did not change Monday. Benton County remained at one case, Sherburne nine, Stearns seven and Wright at 17, including one death reported Saturday.

RELATED: With little testing, Stearns County, hospitals seek new data on area coronavirus spread

The number of cases tied to private residences decreased again Monday to 71%, while the percent of cases in long-term care and assisted living facilities remained steady since Sunday.Globally, there are nearly 1.9 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 116,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Monday morning.

The U.S. has the largest number of identified cases: more than 558,000, according to the center. The most deaths are here too, surpassing 22,000, but the deaths-per-capita rate is lower in the U.S. than some European countries.

Nora Hertel is the government watchdog reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-428-1404 or nhertel@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @nghertel.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to sctimes.com today.