Neighbors,
This week Gov. Walz extended the Peacetime Emergency in Minnesota for 30 days, which will continue to help Minnesotans get through these early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read all of Gov. Walz’s Executive Orders here. The Stay at Home order is in effect until May 3.
As this global, natural disaster takes its heavy toll, I am grateful for the efforts of Minnesotans who are coming together to do what they can to meet the challenge. Here’s one story about how folks are coming together to invent and distribute a low cost ventilatory that will save lives.
Gov. Walz expands outdoor recreation opportunities
Today, Gov. Walz signed Executive Order 20-38 allowing Minnesotans to engage in a range of outdoor activities if they follow new guidelines, which include maintaining 6-foot social distancing, avoiding crowded areas, and staying close to home. The new provisions go into effect on Saturday, April 18 at 5:00 a.m.
Under Executive Order 20-38, facilities that may reopen or remain open include:
- Bait shops for live bait
- Outdoor shooting ranges and game farms
- Public and private parks and trails
- Golf courses and driving ranges
- Boating and off-highway vehicle services, including:
- Marina services
- Dock installation and other lake services
- Boat and off-highway vehicle sales and repair, by appointment only
Campgrounds and dispersed camping, outdoor recreational equipment retail stores, recreational equipment rental, charter boats, launches, and guided fishing remain closed.
It is recommended that Minnesotans continue to take part in outdoor activities close to their primary residence. By doing so, this will protect Minnesotans from spreading COVID-19 and will also limit pressure on rural medical facilities and essential supplies.
House approves takeout beer and wine
The House passed legislation today, allowing takeout sales of beer and wine from bars and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The legislation allows bars and restaurants with liquor licenses to sell up to 72 ounces – the equivalent of one six-pack – of beer, cider or hard seltzer and up to 750 milliliters of wine – the equivalent of one bottle – with food orders. The alcoholic beverages must be sold in their original, unopened containers.
Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act becomes law
I was among the votes approving the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act this week in remote session. The measure had broad support in the Minnesota House and unanimous support in the Minnesota Senate. The legislation establishes an emergency insulin program for the Minnesotans who need it most, with insulin manufacturers financially participating in the solution. You can read my statement here.
Legislation details can be found here. A video recording of the floor debate can be found here. The bill signing news conference and ceremony can be found here.
Additional COVID-19 bills approved
Additionally, during our remote floor session on Tuesday, we approved our fourth COVID-19 relief package to help workers, businesses, and families impacted by this unmatched public health crisis.
Thirteen-week unemployment insurance extension implemented
This week the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced they have fully implemented the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment
Compensation (PEUC) program, extending unemployment benefits for eligible applicants for an additional 13 weeks. You can read more here.
Committees meet remotely
I serve as vice-chair of the Minnesota House Higher Education Finance and Policy Division, and on Wednesday we held our first remote committee hearing. We heard a package of bills to protect students against fraud by for-profit colleges.
Remote committee meetings will be the new normal in this anything but normal 2020 Legislative year. Thanks to efforts of great staff, we have the tools we need to stay safely open to the public as we advance legislation. The full committee schedule is available at www.house.mn/schedules.
Here are steps we can continue to all take to stay healthy:
- COVID-19 primarily spreads by droplets. For your safety, the best thing to do is stay home. Even if healthy, stay home as much as is possible. If you must go out, stay at least six feet away from others.
- Wash your hands often and when you wash them, do so for 20 seconds before rinsing (that means singing Happy Birthday twice before rinsing).
- COVID-19 can also spread from surfaces to you, but only via mucous membranes. In other words, it can only infect you by going from your hands to your eyes, nose or mouth (it cannot infect you through your skin). Therefore, don’t touch your face. This is hard to stop doing (we are creatures of habit), so if you touch your face think about why and look to identify triggers. That will help you break the habit.
- If sick, stay home. If you are very sick (i.e. fever, cough, and shortness of breath) and you feel like you need to see someone, call first or do an e-visit. Do not just show up to your clinic, Urgent Care, or Emergency Dept. without notifying them first. This helps the clinic, Urgent Care, or Emergency Dept. prepare for you and helps avoid infecting others.
- When you cough, use your sleeve to cover your mouth and help prevent forming droplets that can infect others.
Please continue to reach out with any input, ideas, or feedback about the issues important to you. I value hearing from you, so please don’t hesitate to call or email me any time. You can also connect with me on Facebook here. It’s an honor to represent you at the State Capitol.
Sincerely,
Laurie Pryor
State Representative