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March 18, 2020 Below is an update on the COVID-19 pandemic as it pertains to Minnesota as of 7:15 PM on 3/18/2020. By the numbers
 Updates from the GovernorGovernor Tim Walz held a media briefing today to provide an update on Minnesota’s response to COVID-19. He announced that businesses will have a one month interest and penalty-free grace period on the deadline to file sales taxes, which will help alleviate financial strain businesses are facing from COVID-19. The announcement follows reports that COVID-19 cases rose by 17 from yesterday, to 77 confirmed cases in 16 counties. Overall, the age range of cases is 17 to 71 years, with a median age of 50. He also highlighted three executive orders he’s signed in recent days, which will:
Clarification on Business Closures As a reminder, on Monday Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-04 to order the temporary closure of Minnesota restaurants and bars to dine-in customers. He also ordered the temporary closure of other places of public accommodation and amusement, including theaters, museums, fitness centers, and community clubs. Today, he issued a clarification which extends the order to apply to salons, barbershops, and other similar establishments. “As we move quickly to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are constantly learning and adjusting to feedback from health experts, business owners, and workers,” said Governor Walz. “The best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to implement social distancing, and this executive order provides clarification on how we can better implement these community mitigation strategies.”
Grand Princess Update Finally, Governor Walz today announced that 32 Minnesotans who had been quarantined after leaving the Grand Princess cruise ship have now returned home. Up-to-date guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health on recommended community mitigation strategies can be found here. Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
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Tag: Gov. Walz
Governor Walz Signs Executive Order to Protect Veterans Homes Residents
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – In response to the growing threat posed by the COVID-19 virus to Minnesotans, Governor Walz signed an executive order allowing Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Larry Herke to place restrictions on visitation of the veterans at Minnesota’s VeteransHomes. Senator Jerry Newton (DFL-Coon Rapids), DFL lead on the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee, supports the measures and their aim to protect vulnerable veterans.
“As the state responds to the unique challenges of COVID-19, we must ensure we are doing everything we can to protect the health of the hundreds of veterans in our state’s veterans’ homes,” said Senator Jerry Newton. “While these updated guidelines restrict in-person visits, the Department of Veterans Affairs will do everything in its power to balance the safety of residents and staff while finding new alternatives that will allow friends, family, and fellow veterans to connect and stay in touch.”
The restrictions ban in-person visits and instructs the Commissioner to find ways to replace visits with phone calls, video conferencing, or other methods of communicating with friends, family, and other would-be visitors. The ban does not apply in end-of-life situations and to state and federal nursing home regulatory authorities when requesting access to Minnesota Veterans Homes. Furthermore, there will be no admittance of new residents, or entry by employees, volunteers, or others without screening for signs or symptoms of COVID-19. These restrictions go into effect immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.
A copy of the executive order can be found here: https://mn.gov/governor/assets/2020_03_16_EO_20-03_MDVA_tcm1055-423381.pdf.
Minnesota COVID-19 Update: March 17, 2020
Updates from the Governor
Governor Tim Walz today signed Ch. 70 S.F. 4334 into law, allocating $200 million toward an emergency and long-term grant program to respond to the needs of health care and long-term care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “Minnesota COVID-19 Update: March 17, 2020”
Governor Walz: Minnesota schools to close starting Wednesday
The coronavirus is forcing state officials into more drastic action.
Governor Tim Walz has announced that Minnesota’s schools will close down for two weeks as of Wednesday.
The governor has signed an executive order authorizing the closure of the state’s K-12 public schools starting Wednesday until Friday, Mar. 27.
The move is being taken to give schools time to make plans for long-term distance learning, suggesting that the closure could be extended beyond Mar. 27, though for now the plan is to re-open on Mar. 30. Continue reading.
Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on temporary closure of Minnesota schools
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statement on Governor Walz’s announcement regarding closure of Minnesota schools:
“Governor Walz’s decision to temporarily close Minnesota schools is in the best interest of Minnesotans, and we appreciate the thoughtful way his executive order addresses the need for care and meals for our children. The Minnesota House of Representatives has also introduced legislation to ensure our hourly school workers are compensated for days canceled due to COVID-19, and we are working to enact this quickly. We will continue working closing with Governor Walz and his Administration, along with Senate Republicans, as we navigate this pandemic.”
Statement from Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on Governor Walz’s COVID-19 proposals
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statement on Governor Walz’s COVID-19 legislative proposals:
“We strongly support the proposals from Governor Walz to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these proposals have already been introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives, and legislators are already working closely with state agencies and experts to enact measures quickly. We will work with Senate Republicans to mitigate damage from COVID-19 and ensure the physical and economic well-being of all Minnesotans.”
With the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, we suggest you check with the hosting organization to see if meetings, etc. are being held.
Governor TIm Walz and Legislative Leaders COVID-19 Preparations Press Conference
Common Sense Legislation on Insulin
January 31, 2020
This week, Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan joined DFL legislators to announce commonsense legislation to improve access to affordable insulin in Minnesota. Taking the best from both Democrat and Republican proposals, this compromise bill would increase access to affordable insulin, hold Big Pharma accountable, and is ready to be implemented. The Governor and Lt. Governor stood with insulin advocates, including Jett, a 9-year-old with diabetes, and Alexis, a Minnesota college student with diabetes.
On Monday, the Governor headed up to Melrose to hear from local internet provider Arvig on how the border-to-border broadband grant he signed into law will allow the company to improve broadband services for more than 400 locations in Greater Minnesota. Continue reading “Common Sense Legislation on Insulin”
One Year of One Minnesota
This week marked one year since Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan took office. From meeting with Minnesotans at nearly 600 events in more than 100 communities across the state to passing a budget that invests in our schools, protects access to health care, and lifts up local communities, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor have governed with One Minnesota at the heart of everything they do.
Below are some of their key accomplishments from the last year:
Building One Minnesota: To ensure all voices are included at the Minnesota State Capitol, Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan have visited more than 100 towns in every corner of Minnesota and participated in nearly 600 events since they were elected. In one of the only divided governments in the country, Governor Walz worked across party lines with legislative leaders last session to pass a budget that improves the lives of Minnesotans. This was the first time in more than 40 years that a legislative budget passed without a single vetofrom the Governor, and the first time in over a decade that a Governor has reached a bipartisan biennial budget deal with the Minnesota State Legislature on time. Continue reading “One Year of One Minnesota”