Dear Neighbors,
Given the great uncertainty we are facing in dealing with the COVID-19 virus, I wanted to provide some links to information resources that you might find helpful. These resources contain updated information that relates to the current situation in Minnesota, information relating to schools, and to a website that has updates on events being cancelled locally. I also wanted to provide an update on the work going on in the Minnesota Senate for the next three weeks.
For the period from Tuesday, March 17th through Tuesday, April 14th, Senators and staff are going to be moving to remote work arrangements and I will continue to be available to work on legislation, take your questions and investigate concerns. My office number, 651-297-8061, can be used to reach my office or you can email me at the address above. When calling, please leave a voicemail message and we will get back to you. Since we are not going to be having any in-person meetings, I can set up a time to meet by phone or we can communicate by email to address your concerns. Work in the Minnesota Senate Building and Capitol will be very limited. If a committee hearing or floor session is held, there will be public notice and public access provided. These decisions were made due to new guidance by the CDC that recommends no gatherings of over 50 people be held. While it is disappointing to be unable to move important actions forward this session, it is right that our focus now is on taking steps that will best limit the spread of the virus and assist health facilities in getting prepared. Today, we will be passing a second bill relating to funding for a COVID-19 public health response fund. This fund will provide grants and loans to hospitals and nursing facilities. If more actions are needed to address specific issues, we can be called in to pass bills and will do so.Please continue to reach out to my office if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Melissa
Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline
Open: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903
English homepage: click here.
Spanish homepage: click here.
Hmong homepage: click here.
Somali homepage: click here.
MDH Resources
MDH COVID-19 Home: click here.
MDH Situation Update: click here.
MDH recommendations: click here.
School and Childcare Resources
Open 7:00 am – 7:00 pm daily
651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504
Homepage: click here.
Tracking school closures and cancellations: click here.
List of restaurants offering free lunches to students while K-12 schools are closed: click here.
MDE school protocol PDF: click here.
Walz Executive Order on School Closures: click here.
Workforce Resources
Worker protections related to COVID-19: click here
Large event cancellations or public space closures: click here.
CDC Information:
CDC “What is a high risk population?”: click here.
CDC How to protect yourself: click here.
CDC What to do if you’re sick: click here.
CDC Managing stress and anxiety: click here.
CDC Helping children during disasters: click here.
How to clean and destroy Coronavirus: click here.
Senator Melissa Halvorson Wiklund
District 50 – Bloomington, Richfield
2323 Minnesota Senate Building
95 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55155
(651) 297-8061
To subscribe to my e-mail updates, go to www.senate.mn/senatorwiklund, click on the “Subscribe” tab, and enter your e-mail address.