Tag: Gov. Walz

Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 28, 2020

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Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 8:30 PM on 4/28/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Today, Governor Tim Walz traveled to the Mayo Clinic to walk Vice President Mike Pence through Minnesota’s new COVID-19 testing strategy and showcase the public-private partnership that has positioned Minnesota as a national leader in the fight against COVID-19. During their visit to Rochester, Governor Walz and Vice President Pence participated in a roundtable discussion and toured Mayo’s testing facilities. The Governor also met with Rochester Mayor Kim Norton to discuss their efforts to keep the Rochester community safe and healthy.

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Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 27, 2020

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Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 6:00 PM on 4/27/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Today, the Department of Health, Department of Labor and Industry, and Department of Agriculture highlighted our public health support and outreach to ensure food processing facilities and workers can navigate the COVID-19 pandemic safely.

The food supply chain is a critical industry in Minnesota, but across the country, food processing facilities have been particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of the virus and have paused operations. The Walz-Flanagan Administration is taking seriously the need to keep workers and inspectors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are in close partnership with facilities, labor, and local officials as we continue to work through this unprecedented time.

Watch for more news later this week as we continue to prioritize Minnesotans’ health, safety and security through this pandemic. Continue reading “Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 27, 2020”

Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 26, 2020

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April 26, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 8:00 PM on 4/26/2020.

Updates from the Governor

The Department of Health today announced that 28 Minnesotans lost their lives due to COVID-19 yesterday, a new high for the state. The Governor and public health officials continue to encourage Minnesotans to stay home if they can to prevent spreading the virus to their neighbors and loved ones.

Below are resources available to support Minnesotans during this challenging time.

Safety at Home: Stay At Home should never mean you stay somewhere unsafe. There are places of sanctuary open for anyone facing abuse or violence. Please call Minnesota’s statewide crisis hotline – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – at 1.866.223.1111 or text 612.399.9995.

Unemployment Support: Minnesota is one of the first states in the nation to implement both the $600 per week additional compensation and the 13 week extension of benefits available under the CARES Act. Find these and answers to other unemployment questions here. Continue reading “Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 26, 2020”

Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 25. 2020

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April 25, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 6:30 PM on 4/25/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Thank you to everyone who participated in our week-long mask drive! Minnesotans from every corner of the state sewed and donated masks to their local fire stations to support our congregate care facilities. The folks in congregate care settings are on the frontlines of this pandemic, and Minnesotans went above and beyond to help their communities.

Mask Drive

Week in Review

On Monday, April 20 Governor Walz and Ecolab CEO Doug Baker highlighted how public-private partnerships are strengthening Minnesota’s response to COVID-19. The Governor highlighted the productive partnerships underway across the state that are helping Minnesota source supplies around the world.

On Tuesday, April 21 the Department of Human Services announced that more than 1,200 Minnesota child care providers will receive about $9.8 million to continue serving children of essential workers through the first round of emergency state funding.

On Wednesday, April 22 Governor Tim Walz, representatives of the state’s health care delivery systems, the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota announced a breakthrough for rapid, widespread testing of COVID-19 in Minnesota. By building capacity to test as many as 20,000 Minnesotans per day, this increased testing and tracing will help improve control of this pandemic and support the safe re-opening of society.

On Thursday, April 23 the Governor extended distance learning through the end of the school year and announced a plan for up to 100,000 workers to safely return to their jobs.

On Friday, April 24 Governor Walz unveiled a new website to help Minnesotans find a testing location within their community. The Department of Employment and Economic Development also began sending assistance to self-employed people and independent contractors under the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19

  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
  • Washing 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 – with unwashed hands.
  • Stay home if you have cold- or flu-like symptoms, for seven days after your illness onset and three days after your fever resolves without fever reducing medicine (whichever is longer), and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Up-to-date guidance from the Department of Health on recommended community mitigation strategies can be found here.

Resources

Coverage

Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 24, 2020

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April 24, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 4:00 PM on 4/24/2020.

Updates from the Governor

As part of the state’s effort to provide widespread, rapid COVID-19 testing, Governor Tim Walz today unveiled a new website to help Minnesotans find a testing location within their community.

This testing collaborative now includes 127 clinics and health care facilities across the state. The new COVID-19 website provides easy access to Minnesotans’ closest testing site, offers general information related to the COVID-19 outbreak, and provides an interactive screening tool to help Minnesotans determine if they need a test.

“Access to COVID-19 testing is critical to moving Minnesota forward during this pandemic,” Governor Walz said. “This tool will help make our widespread testing initiative accessible to all Minnesotans, and it’s a direct result of our partnership with the cutting-edge health care sector in Minnesota.”

Today, the Department of Employment and Economic Development began sending assistance to self-employed people and independent contractors under the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Minnesota is one of the first states in the country to implement the entire CARES Act, and the launch of the PUA program is a milestone in support of Minnesotans during this pandemic.

Education Update

Today, Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker shared more details on Minnesota’s distance learning plan through the end of the school year. They addressed ways the state is working to expand technology for students, provide guidance for teachers on how best to connect with students, and support families through this difficult time.

Final Day of Mask Drive

The Governor and Lt. Governor encourage Minnesotans to participate in their homemade mask drive by making homemade masks for donation to congregate care facilities. Tomorrow, Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Minnesotans can deliver homemade masks to their local fire department. Fire departments will then deliver the masks to local congregate living facilities for their employees and residents to wear. Find other ways you can make a difference in your community here.

Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19

  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
  • Washing 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 – with unwashed hands.
  • Stay home if you have cold- or flu-like symptoms, for seven days after your illness onset and three days after your fever resolves without fever reducing medicine (whichever is longer), and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Up-to-date guidance from the Department of Health on recommended community mitigation strategies can be found here.

Resources

Coverage

Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 24, 2020

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April 24, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 4:00 PM on 4/24/2020.

Updates from the Governor

As part of the state’s effort to provide widespread, rapid COVID-19 testing, Governor Tim Walz today unveiled a new website to help Minnesotans find a testing location within their community.

This testing collaborative now includes 127 clinics and health care facilities across the state. The new COVID-19 website provides easy access to Minnesotans’ closest testing site, offers general information related to the COVID-19 outbreak, and provides an interactive screening tool to help Minnesotans determine if they need a test.

“Access to COVID-19 testing is critical to moving Minnesota forward during this pandemic,” Governor Walz said. “This tool will help make our widespread testing initiative accessible to all Minnesotans, and it’s a direct result of our partnership with the cutting-edge health care sector in Minnesota.” Continue reading “Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 24, 2020”

Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on allowing certain

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA— Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on Governor Walz’s announcement that certain non-critical businesses can reopen:

“Minnesotans’ work ethic is unparalleled across the country — we are a hard-working and productive state. Minnesotans care about one another’s health and we share a commitment to taking action to lessen the risk posed by COVID-19,” said Speaker Hortman. “The steps Governor Walz outlined today for office, industrial, and manufacturing workplaces are a welcome signal that together we have made progress slowing the spread of this disease, and that we are learning the steps we must take to keep each other safe moving forward. I appreciate that Governor Walz and his team are continuing to follow the science and are putting Minnesotans’ health and safety first. Our foremost concern continues to be ensuring that we can protect our health care system from being overwhelmed, and that we can protect health care workers who are risking their lives to treat Minnesotans.”

“Minnesotans need as much economic security as we can provide during this public health crisis, and those least likely to have it are being hardest hit,” said Majority Leader Winkler. “House DFLers are working to ensure the health and economic well-being of Minnesotans now and into the future.”

 

Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 23, 2020

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April 23, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 4:00 PM on 4/23/2020.

Updates from the Governor

A day after announcing a statewide strategy for COVID-19 testing, Governor Tim Walz today outlined next steps for Minnesota’s response to the pandemic. The Governor extended distance learning through the end of the school year and announced a plan for up to 100,000 workers to safely return to their jobs.

Governor Walz announced that distance learning will continue through the rest of the 2019-2020 school calendar year, explaining how the state will continue to pursue opportunities to expand technology for students, provide guidance for educators on how to best connect with students, and support families.

“As a former teacher, this is a heartbreaking decision,” Governor Walz said. “I am sorry for all of our students who will miss out on graduations, tournaments, and end of year celebrations. While I recognize distance learning is a challenge for many families, it is critical to social distancing in Minnesota and supports the health of Minnesota’s families. We will continue looking for ways to improve the current system and better support our children.” Continue reading “Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 23, 2020”

Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 22, 2020

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Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 7:45 PM on 4/22/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Governor Tim Walz, representatives of the state’s health care delivery systems, the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota today announced a breakthrough for rapid, widespread testing of COVID-19 in Minnesota. They plan to launch a statewide testing strategy to test all symptomatic people, isolate confirmed cases, and expand public health contact tracing tools. By building capacity to test as many as 20,000 Minnesotans per day, this increased testing and tracing will help improve control of this pandemic and support the safe re-opening of society.

“When Minnesota faces a challenge, we rise up—together,” Governor Walz said. “I’m proud to partner with Minnesota’s innovative health care systems and leading research institutions to pioneer how states can begin to move forward amid COVID-19.” Continue reading “Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 22, 2020”

Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 21, 2020

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April 21, 2020

Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 4:45 PM on 4/21/2020.

Updates from the Governor

Today, the Department of Human Services announced that more than 1,200 Minnesota child care providers will receive about $9.8 million to continue serving children of essential workers through the first round of emergency state funding. The grants, proposed by Governor Walz and authorized by the Minnesota Legislature last month, will help family child care providers and child care centers ensure there is capacity to serve these families during the state’s COVID-19 response.

Department of Health Update

We know that COVID-19 is particularly harmful to our elderly population, and seniors living in congregate living facilities face an even higher risk of infection. Today, Department of Health officials shared more on the support they are providing to long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and highlighted their work with state and local staff to identify and address ongoing issues such as infection control, personal protective equipment, and staffing. Continue reading “Gov. Walz COVID-19 Update: April 21, 2020”