Dear Neighbors,
I hope you and yours are staying safe and healthy as Minnesota experiences its most dangerous days yet in the COVID-19 pandemic. The surge in cases and deaths have taken place across the midwest, and indeed the country, with many states reverting to the measures we saw last spring. Though the promising news of effective vaccinesgives us hope, the facts are that we still have months to go before they could be distributed in a best-case scenario, and until then measures must be taken to ensure our community stays healthy.
New COVID-19 Restrictions
Yesterday, following the guidance of the state’s top public health officials, Governor Walz announced the return of familiar measures:
- Minnesotans are being asked to stay home when possible, avoiding gatherings with people outside of their household.
- Restaurants and bars are dialed back to delivery and takeout only. Gyms and fitness studios will close. Entertainment venues, event spaces, and similar establishments will also close.
- Youth sports are on pause. Sports-related cases are nearly twice as prevalent among high school-age children as any other age groups and they increasingly play a key role in the need to move schools to distance learning.
The return to these restrictions will be an added burden to our community, but the alternative is a system where Minnesota’s hospitals are overrun, putting all medical emergencies at risk. I echo the sentiments shared by my legislative colleague, Dr. Alice Mann, which you can listen to here.
New COVID Testing Options
There are now several new options for COVID-19 testing, including a take home version. You can find more information on the latest testing options and the nearest locations here.
If you have any symptoms, or have been potentially exposed to virus, you should get tested. If you do not have symptoms, it is best to get tested at least 5 days after the last time you were close to a person with COVID-19. With the surge in cases, note that it can take several days to get your results.
Stay In Touch
With the 2021 Legislative Session beginning in January, I’m currently preparing to return to St. Paul to build upon Minnesota’s response to the pandemic and the resulting economic and societal impact on our state.
You can stay up to date on our work by subscribing to these legislative updates and “liking” my official Facebook page. For any questions you have on the resources available to our community or our work in the Minnesota House, you can reach me at rep.andrew.carlson@house.mn or leave a voicemail at (651) 296-4218. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Andrew Carlson
State Representative