Gov. Tim Walz COVID-19 Update: May 22, 2020

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May 21, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 6:00 PM on 5/21/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Today, leaders from the Minnesota Department of Health provided an update on our Administration’s response to COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. Significant work has been done to stand up the Governor’s Five-Point Battle Plan over the last several weeks, including:

  • Developing a process to schedule long term care facilities to be tested. To date, we have tested 39 long term care facilities across the state, including over 7000 residents and staff. Looking forward, we have 30 facilities scheduled for testing over the next week.
  • Rolling out the REDCap survey tool where long term care facilities can request testing for their facilities.
  • Hosting a weekly webinar for long term care facilities.
  • Training and deploying 50 National Guard members to test in long term care facilities.
  • Sending more than 2 million gloves, 37,000 cloth masks, 18,000 N95 masks, and more than 100,000 face masks/face shields to skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. More than 175 facilities received these critical supplies.
  • Finalizing and releasing a volunteer management system in order to connect facilities to actual healthcare workers near them.
  • Finalizing and distributing long-term care toolkits to over 2500 long term care facilities.
  • Providing assistance to 654 facilities on infection control measures, how to properly use PPE and other how to prevent, prepare for and respond to a potential outbreak.

Above all else, the Walz-Flanagan Administration prioritizes Minnesotans’ health and safety through the COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, the Governor announced the slow turning of the dials for restaurants and bars, allowing outdoor seating with safe social distancing measures, as well as the cautious reopening of personal services, like hair salons and barbershops.

Every day, our case counts rise and our death totals grow. So we are not making sudden movements. Rather, we are moving through this pandemic cautiously and strategically, analyzing the data and listening to scientists and experts at every turn. As we safely reopen the economy, we need Minnesotans to do their part. Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

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Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19

  • Wear masks when in public. 10-50% of virus carriers are asymptomatic wearing masks helps control the virus and has been shown to lower COVID-19 spread.
  • Avoid enclosed spaces with groups of people, where the virus can linger in the air for long periods of time.
  • Get tested if you have cold or flu-like symptoms – Find testing locations.
  • Stay six feet away from others.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose and mouth – with unwashed hands.
  • Up-to-date guidance is available from the Department of Health.

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