MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Many Minnesotans who need treatment for COVID-19 won't have to share the costs with their health plans.

Gov. Tim Walz announced Thursday that six major health plans have agreed to waive copayments and coinsurance requirements for COVID-19 testing and in-network hospitalizations, and to grant expanded access to telemedicine services.

Walz also announced that the state will start releasing the names of most long-term care centers hit by outbreaks of the disease.

State health officials reported one new COVID-19 death Thursday, raising Minnesota's total to 18. Confirmed cases continue to rise, with 53 new cases for a total of 742.

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