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Neighbors and Friends,
COVID-19 Update
News is evolving quickly on the COVID-19 virus. Governor Tim Walz and
Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm are holding
a news conference at 1 p.m. today to announce mitigation strategies in
response to COVID-19.
You can watch the news conference live at this link:
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/live/1
This week, the House and Senate unanimously approved the bipartisan COVID-19 virus response bill. Gov. Walz signed the bill into law on Wednesday. The measure provides immediate funding to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) if the virus results in a major health crisis in Minnesota. You can read the news release from Gov. Walz on the state response to the outbreak. The COVID-19 Hotline can be reached at (651) 201-3920 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to answer any questions.
House leaders also announced additional COVID-19 measures to help prepare for the virus. A package of bills includes:
- clarification on when a governor can declare a peacetime emergency,
- establishing a health care revolving loan account,
- expansion of unemployment insurance to include sick time payments during a communicable disease outbreak,
- compensating hourly school workers for cancelation days,
- cost-free COVID-19 – related testing, treatment and quarantine, and
- banning price gouging on goods/services during an emergency.
You can read more details about these proposals here.
Updates from all sectors of life are changing hour to hour. Your best source of accurate and timely information is the Minnesota Department of Health.
Gov. Walz released his Supplemental Budget yesterday. The budget focuses on financial stability and planning for emergencies. You can read more about it here.
In other news from the Capitol:
Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless - Day on the Hill
Advocates for the homeless came to the Capitol this week.
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