Governor Walz Announces Timeline to End COVID-19 Restrictions
Capacity restrictions to end on May 28, masking requirement to end by July 1
On Thursday, Governor Walz announced a three-step timeline to end nearly all COVID-19 restrictions by May 28, and end the statewide masking requirement once 70% of Minnesotans age 16 years and older get their vaccine, or by July 1. The announcement comes as more than 2.6 million Minnesotans have gotten their shot and the state is on track to vaccinate 70 percent of Minnesotans by the end of June.
Since mid-April, COVID-19 cases have declined. Hospitals are seeing fewer admissions and vaccination progress has relentlessly pushed forward. Vaccines held COVID-19 variants at bay and avoided having them overwhelm our state. Minnesotans can visit VaccineConnector.mn.gov to make a vaccine appointment at a Community Vaccination Program site, or use the Find Vaccine Locations map to locate a provider near them.
2 Million Minnesotans Have Received Complete Vaccine Series
This week, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan announced that 2 million Minnesotans have completed the vaccination process. While it took the state 15 weeks to complete the first million vaccine series, it took just five weeks to complete the second million vaccine series.
“Minnesotans have done an extraordinary job doing their part to end this pandemic,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “I am grateful for everyone who has gotten us to this milestone today — from the providers distributing vaccines, to the Minnesotans rolling up their sleeves, to the organizers on the ground making sure no community is left behind, to the friends and neighbors helping their loved ones get these life-saving shots. This has been a true team effort and I know we can get to the finish line together.”
State Launches Walk-In COVID-19 Vaccinations at State Vaccine Sites
Starting today, walk-in availability makes it easy, convenient for Minnesotans to roll up their sleeves
On Friday, Governor Walz announced that eligible Minnesotans can walk in for a COVID-19 vaccination without an appointment at the state’s Community Vaccination Program locations effective today, Friday, May 7. As Minnesotans under 18 must receive consent from a parent or guardian, the state encourages parents, guardians, and families to walk in and get vaccinated together.
Walk-ins for Minnesotans 16+ are now accepted at state community vaccination sites in Bloomington (Mall of America), Saint Paul (Roy Wilkins Auditorium), Lino Lakes and Oakdale. Walk-ins for Minnesotans 18+ are now accepted at Mankato, Duluth, Rochester, and St. Cloud.
Governor Walz Calls on Senate to Pass Summer Learning Package in Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget
On Tuesday, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan called on the Minnesota Senate to quickly pass the summer learning package in Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget to ensure schools have the support they need to help students recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Passed by the Minnesota House in March, the $150 million plan addresses opportunity gaps and expands summer learning opportunities.
Helping students recover and catch up on learning 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 catch up on learning, and helps small businesses stay afloat while driving economic recovery.
Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Honors the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Relatives
On Wednesday, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives , Lieutenant Governor Flanagan joined State Legislators and community leadership to push for a new Minnesota Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Office dedicated to preventing and ending the targeting of Indigenous women and children.
“A powerful way we can both honor those we’ve lost and protect our Native women and girls into the future, is to create and fully fund the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Office in the Department of Public Safety,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “I believe we can work together with Minnesota Legislature to get this done.”
- Legislators propose Minnesota office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (Star Tribune)
- A sensible COVID plan for a return to normal (Star Tribune)
- Walz: Prepare for a summer ‘where just the simple pleasures will be back again’ (Bring Me the News)
- Walz pledges to end all Minnesota COVID-19 restrictions by July 1 (KMSP)
- Minnesota first-dose COVID-19 vaccine rate nears 60% (Star Tribune)
- Gov. Walz says loosened COVID restrictions are all about finding a balance (KARE 11)