Following New CDC Guidance, Governor Walz Announces End to Statewide Face Covering Requirement
On Thursday, Governor Walz announced the end of Minnesota’s statewide mask requirement, aligning Minnesota with new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on face coverings. Minnesotans who are not fully vaccinated are strongly recommended to wear face coverings indoors.
“This great day is possible because vaccines have proven to be effective,” said Governor Walz. “Once you are fully vaccinated you are protected. You can confidently return to the people you love and things that you miss – all without a mask. The message is clear — get vaccinated and let’s put the pandemic behind us once and for all.”
Governor Walz Kicks Off the Annual Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener Weekend in Otter Tail County
On Friday, the Governor traveled to Otter Tail County to kick off the 2021 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener Weekend. He is spending the weekend highlighting Minnesota tourism and celebrating the kick off of summer in Minnesota.
While in Otter Tail County, the Governor is talking to local media about the outdoor opportunities Minnesota has to offer, highlighting local businesses including the Lund Boat factory, and meeting with local leaders, including Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer.
The Governor’s Fishing Opener is a time-honored tradition that has been held by Democratic, Republican, and Independent governors since 1948.
More than Half a Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Administered via State Community Vaccination Efforts
This week, Governor Walz announced that over 520,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered at Minnesota’s Community Vaccination Program locations around the state. Governor Walz ordered the State Emergency Operations Center to launch the community vaccination program in January to expand access to COVID vaccines.
After launching the Vaccine Pilot Program in January, the Walz-Flanagan Administration has continued to expand access to no-cost, low-barrier vaccine opportunities through the Community Vaccination Program.
Governor Walz: Minnesota Ready to Vaccinate 12-15-Year-Olds This Week as FDA Gives Pfizer Authorization
Following the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for 12-to-15-year-olds today, Governor Walz announced that Minnesota is ready to begin vaccinating this age group.
“I am so excited to get our kids back to all the things they love this summer — playing with friends, swimming , camps, sports, walks and bike rides, activities, vacations, and more” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “And now, with the ability to get vaccinated, our teens 12 and older can have a significant level of extra protection to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe. This is a great day for progress and I hope Minnesotans take advantage of this life-saving opportunity and get their shot as soon as possible.”
Governor Walz Signs Healthy Start Act into Law to Support Health, Wellbeing of Incarcerated Mothers, Children
Also this week, Governor Walz signed the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) Healthy Start Act into law, providing new resources to support the health and wellbeing of incarcerated mothers and their newborn babies.
“Every child deserves a healthy start. We listened to incarcerated moms on how we could support them and their babies through pregnancy, birth, and post-partum – and their stories became the bipartisan women-led Healthy Start Act that was signed into law,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “I had the opportunity to hear these stories firsthand with Representative Jaime Becker Finn in 2019. And now, I am so grateful for her leadership, and for the leadership of all the women who came together to get this done. This is what happens when you center the voices of women at the decision-making table. Minnesota is the better for it. I am so proud of this historic policy that will improve the lives of moms and babies in our state.”
Governor Walz, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Urge Legislative Action to Support Child Care Providers, Working Families
On Monday, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan called for swift legislative action to support Minnesota’s child care providers and working families. Speaking at the Wilder Child Development Center in Saint Paul, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor stressed the urgency and importance of passing an ongoing Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) rate increase this session.
Helping working families recover from the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the Governor’s budget priorities from the beginning of the legislative session. In January, Governor Walz announced Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget – his budget proposal for the next biennium. As Minnesota continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Walz’s budget supports working families, ensures students continue catch up on learning, and helps small businesses stay afloat while driving economic recovery.
President Biden Recognizes Minnesota for Successful Vaccination Effort
On Tuesday, Governor Walz participated in a bipartisan, virtual roundtable discussion led by President Joe Biden to highlight the state’s successful vaccination efforts. Minnesota was recognized by the Biden Administration as one of the top states for its vaccination and COVID-19 response.
Minnesota has led the nation in expanding vaccine access and getting shots into arms, ranking in the top ten states for percent of doses administered. Nearly 90% of Minnesotans age 65 and older and more than 60% of those age 16 and older have received at least one shot. The Walz-Flanagan Administration has also launched innovative strategies to prioritize equity in the vaccine rollout, including direct allocation of doses to federally qualified health centers and a first-of-its-kind data partnership with healthcare providers to track and report vaccine equity.