Dear Neighbors,

This week, the St. Louis County Public Health Division is asking residents to share encouraging messages with our frontline direct-care workers who are working in stressful, challenging conditions. St. Louis County Public Health has created an online form for people to send a caring message to workers in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and healthcare settings. Public Health staff will share the messages with care providers, on social media platforms and other means as they are able. Share a message here.

This is also National Nurses Week and Teacher Appreciation Week. These are two professions impacted heavily by our COVID-19 pandemic, and I want to express my gratitude for their unwavering dedication to their professions.

House Approves COVID-19 Economic Security Act

Due to no fault of their own, Minnesotans are experiencing tremendous economic hardship during the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic has also exposed deep, systemic inequities in our communities. Yesterday, I proudly supported the House DFL’s COVID-19 Economic Security Act, which helps those who are struggling to make their next rent payment, students who depend on broadband access to connect to their schools and teachers, the smallest businesses that have been denied any financial assistance, and personal care attendants (PCAs) who continue to provide care during this pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for PCAs and their clients. I was the chief author of the provision in the bill to deliver a temporary 15 percent rate increase for PCA services during the COVID-19 pandemic and other modifications to help them more effectively deliver care. Despite low pay and grueling demands, Minnesota’s PCAs are dedicated to their jobs, performing vital services that allow the most vulnerable among us to live in their communities with dignity. As we continue to work on long-term solutions to recruit and retain Minnesotans to these positions, this legislation will help ensure PCAs have economic security during this crisis.

Overall, this legislation is part of our commitment to address inequities and give all Minnesotans the opportunity to succeed. We are making necessary investments to help the people in our community rebound from this crisis and help our economy get back on track. You can read more about the legislation here.

New Plan for Long-Term Care Facilities

COVID-19 has impacted Minnesotans living in long-term care facilities and other congregate settings the hardest, and residents and staff deserve to be safe from increased exposure. Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz announced a new five-point plan to bolster the significant work that has been taking place already within facilities and the public health sector.

The plan’s five points are: expanded testing for residents and workers; providing testing support and troubleshooting; getting needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to facilities; ensuring adequate staffing levels, and leveraging partnerships with local public health officials. You can learn more about the plan from the Minnesota Department of Health’s presentation here.

Next Phase: Contact Tracing

As COVID-19 testing increases, the next phase of our public health response is a robust contact tracing and isolation strategy. This week, the House Health and Human Services Finance Division, on which I serve, approved a bill creating a contact tracing plan which will identify people who may have contracted COVID-19 and prevent the virus from spreading. This will be a massive undertaking, requiring the help of as many as 4,000 Minnesotans to interview those afflicted and contact those who may be at risk. Furloughed or laid-off workers, students, retirees, and volunteers are all potential candidates for these positions. You can learn more about the bill here.

Please visit the state COVID-19 Dashboard for all the latest in our effort to fight this pandemic. The Minnesota House website has links to resources and other helpful information as well. Also, continue to contact me directly if I can be of help. My email is rep.jennifer.schultz@house.mn and phone number is 651-296-2228. It’s an honor to represent you.

Sincerely,

Jen Schultz
State Representative