Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: December 4, 2020 , CD3 DFL

Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Highlight Housing Assistance and Response to Homelessness Amid COVID-19

This week, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan highlighted efforts to support Minnesotans experiencing homelessness and to ensure Minnesotans can afford to stay in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic or come inside if they are experiencing homelessness. They encouraged Minnesotans who are behind on their rent, mortgage, or utility payments to apply for the Administration’s Housing Assistance Program by Monday, December 7, 2020, at 11:59 pm.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Governor Walz issued an eviction moratorium tied to the peacetime emergency that prevents residents from being evicted from their homes due to non-payment. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan then announced the $100 million Housing Assistance Program on July 14, 2020. Since then, more than 28,000 Minnesotans have applied from every corner of the state, requesting more than $67 million in assistance. With the support of the Minnesota State Legislature, more than $190 million total dollars in state and federal assistance have also been directed to housing stability and homelessness during the pandemic.

Minnesotans seeking housing assistance should call 211 or apply at 211unitedway.org by Monday, December 7, 2020. Greater Twin Cities United Way’s 211 Resource Helpline has dedicated multilingual staff available to answer questions.

Governor Walz Announces over 230,000 Minnesotans are Using Minnesota’s COVID-19 Exposure Notification App

Governor Walz announced that in the week since Minnesota announced the COVID-19 exposure app COVIDaware MN, over 230,000 Minnesotans have downloaded it. Within two days of the app’s November 23 launch, it reached the #3 most popular utilities app in the iPhone App Store.

Minnesotans can learn more about the app on the COVIDaware MN website , and download it today from the Google Play or App Store.

Governor Walz, Long-Term Care Providers to Highlight Efforts to Keep Long-Term Care Residents Safe

Today, Governor Walz joined Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard Major General Shawn Manke, and long-term care providers to give an update on COVID-19 community transmission and highlight efforts to keep long-term care residents safe.

In May, the Governor announced a Five-Point Battle Plan to protect those Minnesotans and the staff who work in those facilities. A tremendous amount of effort has gone into protecting Minnesotans through that plan.

Together, Minnesota has:

Epanded COVID-19 testing for residents and staff in long-term care facilities
Provided testing support and troubleshooting to clear barriers to testing
Supplied personal protective equipment to facilities when needed
Ensured adequate staffing levels for the hardest-hit facilities
Leveraged our partnerships with local public health to better serve facilities across Minnesota

Epanded COVID-19 testing for residents and staff in long-term care facilities
Provided testing support and troubleshooting to clear barriers to testing
Supplied personal protective equipment to facilities when needed
Ensured adequate staffing levels for the hardest-hit facilities
Leveraged our partnerships with local public health to better serve facilities across Minnesota

Unfortunately, data shows that work is now being undermined by community transmission. The vast majority of COVID-19 cases in our state come from community transmission. That means we’re unable to tell where the case originated—the virus is simply in the community and moving at a pace that is hard to control. The work that has taken place to protect long-term care residents cannot completely insulate facilities and residents from the high rate of viral transmission in the communities surrounding them. All too often, the virus enters a facility because staff are exposed in the community.

Minnesota is seeing the effects of increased community spread in long-term care through worker shortages, increases in cases, and, unfortunately, deaths in facilities. In addition, due to community spread, many facilities have had to dial back visits during the holiday season when seeing loved ones is so important and meaningful to families.

Minnesotans must continue to do their part to slow the spread by masking, social distancing, staying home when sick, and getting tested when appropriate. By doing these things, every Minnesotan can help protect those who are at high risk, or who work with those who are high risk.

State updates COVID-19 testing recommendations for dial-back period

During Minnesota’s dial-back period to slow the state’s alarming rate of COVID-19 transmission and prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) officials have issued updated testing recommendations on who needs to be tested, when to be tested, and which option may be best.

Who should get tested during Dial Back, Minnesota

Anyone with symptoms should seek out testing immediately.
Anyone who was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 should get tested.
Anyone who is still working at places that remain open during Dial Back, Minnesota should get tested. This includes critical infrastructure, first responders, health care, retail, child care, etc.

Minnesotans now have several accessible choices available to them, including 20 longer-term community testing sites offering nasal and saliva testing, a mail-order program, and clinics and hospitals across the state.