Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: July 28, 2020

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July 28, 2020

Updates from the Governor

Today, Lt. Governor Flanagan joined Minneapolis Mayor Frey and Hennepin County officials to highlight three new shelters in Minneapolis made possible by collaboration between the city, county, state, and community organizations. These shelters include the Cedar Box site, which will provide culturally-specific shelter and services for Native individuals experiencing homelessness; Exodus 2, which provides deeply affordable housing and medical respite shelter beds; and the Gordon Center site, which will provide shelter for women experiencing homelessness.

Also today, the Department of Human Services encouraged Minnesotans to apply for food support for children ahead of an upcoming Friday deadline. The Walz-Flanagan Administration is committed to supporting children through this pandemic, and about 350,000 Minnesota school aged-children who qualify for the federal free and reduced-price meal program are eligible to receive additional funding through the summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program.

Families who were receiving free or reduced-price school meals for the 2019-2020 school year, but who were not also receiving SNAP or MFIP benefits on March 18, 2020, can apply for a P-EBT card to receive these additional funds. The application can be accessed at mn.p-ebt.org.

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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