COVID-19 Video Update
Dear Constituents and Friends,
I am aware of your concerns and questions about the COVID-19 response here at the Capitol and in Minnesota. This newsletter will hopefully answer your questions and relieve some of your concerns.
As of this writing, public health authorities are aware of 54 cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota. You can call the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 hotline at 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with any questions you have.
Governor Walz Issues Declaration to Close Restaurants, Bars, and Other Places of Public Amusement
This evening, Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-04 to order the temporary closure of Minnesota restaurants and bars to dine-in customers in response to the growing number of positive COVID-19 cases in Minnesota. He also ordered the temporary closure of other places of public accommodation and amusement, including theaters, museums, fitness centers, and community clubs. These changes will go into effect March 17th at 5pm.
Key points to know:
- Restaurants are allowed to be open to provide delivery and/or take out
- Grocery stores and pharmacies remain open under this order
- The initial time period is the same as the school announcement- through Friday March 27
In an effort to support the many Minnesotans affected by these closures, the Governor signedExecutive Order 20-05 to strengthen Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and ensure that workers who are not able to work as a result of COVID-19 have benefits available. Specifically, this Executive Order will waive the employer surcharge and allow the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to pay unemployment benefits immediately, providing fast relief to employees who need it. Find further updates from Governor Walz on executive orders here.
Find out what other states are doing in response to COVID-19 here.
K-12 School Closures
The Governor has ordered all Minnesota public schools to close starting this coming Wednesday, March 18 until Friday, March 27.
The intention of these closures is to allow school administrators and teachers to make long-term plans for the continuity of education and essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic and to slow the spread of the illness. However, there are many considerations, so a number of plans and programs are being put into place to help students, families and employees with issues such as:
- Feeding students who rely on school meals
- Continuing to deliver education via distance-learning methods
- Childcare for the children of emergency and health care workers
- Unique needs for special education and English language learners
- Homeless students
- Human rights
- Bullying
- How public libraries can help
- Keeping school employees healthy
- Attendance and minimal instruction days rules
- Academic assessments testing, and more
Those with school and childcare questions can call 651-297-1304.
School Closure Impacts on Families
The school closures, hopefully, has cause some relief, but I know it has caused stress and anxiety for those who face extremely difficult challenges around employment, school-based nutrition and health services, and the like. I will be working with the legislature to provide whatever funding and resources are needed to get us through this time.
I have been in close contact with city leaders and they are looking at taking steps such as putting a halt on evictions, water turn offs, considerations for emergency responders, sanitation workers, continuity of operations, small businesses that may be harmed, and on.
For more information on what cities within our community are doing:
City of Eden Prairie – Declaration of State of Emergency
City of Bloomington – Calling emergency city council meeting to consider formal action to consent to the local emergency declaration
City of Edina – Update from Mayor Jim Hovland
City of Minnetonka – City of Minnetonka announces cancellations and closings
Closing schools was not an easy decision to reach. As a mother of two young children, I understand the pressure of this situation with having the kids at home and limited access to childcare that puts a large strain on working families. This week, the Legislature, in cooperation with the Governor, will be looking at passing a number of measures to help employees and businesses who are facing the dilemma of economic hardships from not going to work, barrier-free access to testing and treatment for everyone, practical and tangible support for steps we all need to take to aid with social distancing, prohibiting price gouging and other potential abuses during this time of crisis.
Public Health Updates
Testing for the virus is a continuing source of frustration for many. I, with the state and local public health officials, share that frustration. Simply put, our partners at the federal level failed to act quickly back in early January when the pandemic was still a looming crisis. Combined with some specific missteps, Minnesota doesn’t have a sufficient number of test kits available right now. Mayo Clinic and others are stepping up to fill the gap and will push the CDC and the FDA for approval on the new tests coming into the market.
I continue to urge everyone to take other precautionary measures, especially if you are a member of a high-risk population. The CDC’s guidance for high-risk people can be found here.
The Minnesota Department of Health urges you to do the following:
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, and then throw the tissue in the trash
- Wash 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 – especially with unwashed hands.
- Stay home if you have cold or flu-like symptoms and avoid close contact with people who are sick
In addition, please implement social distancing by staying six feet away from others and limiting your time in public. I understand that this puts a strain on many Minnesotans’ normal ways of living life. Nevertheless, I encourage you to avoid any contact that will put you or others at risk of contracting this virus if at all possible.
For more information about COVID-19, how to keep you and your family healthy, state and community responses, settings with frail elderly persons, and the current status of the illness in the state, please see the Department of Health website.
Further resources and information can be found here:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC’s communications resources to share
Keeping yourself emotionally healthy
Helping children in time of disasters
COVID-19 and Tax Season
As Minnesota responds to COVID-19, I want to reassure you that the Minnesota Department of Revenue remains open and ready to help with tax-related services. Revenue’s top priority is the health and safety, so they will be modifying some of the services offered.
In following guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health to help limit the spread of COVID-19:
- They are still offer in-person meetings and walk-in services, but may modify them to allow more distance between people.
- You can securely drop off tax returns and payments outside our St. Paul office without face-to-face interaction. Please put all materials in a sealed envelope.
Has the income tax deadline changed?
No. At this time, federal and Minnesota individual income tax returns are due April 15, 2020. We continue to monitor actions by the IRS and will update this information as necessary.
What if COVID-19 impacts my ability to file and pay my taxes on time?
Under Minnesota Statute, taxpayers have the ability to request an abatement of any penalty or interest imposed for failing to timely file a return or failing to timely pay a tax for good cause. If you are unable to file and pay on time because of COVID-19 illness or related situation, please contact the department.
Are free tax preparation services affected?
To help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota, some free income tax preparation siteshave suspended services. Please contact the site for updated hours of operation.
You may be eligible to file your return electronically for free. View our list of providers to see if you qualify. If you have questions, you can call the Department of Revenue at 651-556-3000 or 1-800-657-3666.
Please continue to keep in touch if you have any concerns or comments. You can reach me directly at melisaf@senate.mn. You can also email my LA, Kendall, at kendall.smaby@senate.mn or reach our office at 651-296-6238 to leave a voicemail for follow up.
Sincerely,
Melisa