Dear Neighbors,

I hope this message finds you and your family well. It’s difficult to spend special holidays like Easter and Passover apart from loved ones, and I hope we can soon again have gatherings with family and friends. However, continued social distancing will be critical toward getting past the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to adapt to our new situation in a variety of ways. Tomorrow, the Minnesota House will again meet in session to consider another bipartisan package of legislation aimed at providing needed flexibility and assistance to Minnesotans. The bill includes a number of solutions including provisions to help people execute wills, allow local governments to meet remotely, suspend certain deadlines and expiration dates, give the Department of Health authority to set up alternative health care facilities, and more. You can read the legislation here.

Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act

Also, on tomorrow’s agenda is the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act. After months of conversations, a bipartisan consensus has finally been achieved. This measure will ensure Minnesotans in an emergency situation can access insulin and develops a longer-term safety net to help everyone with diabetes afford this critical medication. The true credit for this achievement goes to Minnesotans like Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt – parents of Alec Smith, who tragically lost his life after he was forced to ration his insulin due to cost – for their unwavering advocacy. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to vote for this legislation tomorrow.

COVID-19 Modeling

Since this pandemic emerged, many Minnesotans have had questions about the data driving Governor Walz and his administration’s decision making. This past Friday, the Minnesota Department of Health and University of Minnesota School of Public Health released information on their COVID-19 modeling. In particular, the model predicts the peak of the epidemic (when the highest number of people have the condition), how many people that will be, and when we’re projected to exceed ICU bed capacity. You can find information, including slides and frequently asked questions, here.

Peacetime Emergency and Stay at Home Order Extended

Today, Governor Tim Walz announced an executive order to extend the current peacetime emergency until May 13. Since the emergency was first declared on March 13, the governor has taken a number of decisive steps to protect the health and safety of Minnesotans. As difficult as these changes have been – including distance learning, closing of gathering places, and the Stay at Home order – evidence shows they are working to “flatten the curve” and “push out the peak.”  With uncertain as the coming days and weeks are, today’s action will help ensure our state can continue to respond rapidly to issues as they arise.

Last week, Governor Walz also extended the current Stay at Home order through May 4, with some modifications. Landscaping and lawn care services, agricultural equipment repair businesses, and garden centers and nurseries can all now operate as long as social distancing is maintained.

Minnesota has the lowest number of COVID-19 cases in the country. While this is relatively good news, if we don’t stay the course, it’s possible any progress we’ve made to this point could be lost and Minnesotans’ health and safety could be put in greater jeopardy. Here are some FAQs about the order.

Resources for Veterans

Help is available for veterans or their surviving spouses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the response package lawmakers recently passed, we included $6.2 million in grants to be delivered through the State Soldiers' Assistance Program. Applications for these grants – up to $1,000 – are now available, and to apply, contact your local County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) OR apply online at MinnesotaVeteran.org/COVIDRelief.

For accurate, up-to-date information please visit the state’s COVID-19 Dashboard with comprehensive information including data about available ventilators, ICU beds, personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and more. The Minnesota House website also has a COVID-19 section with the latest from the Legislature and links to helpful resources. If I can be of assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing me at rep.julie.sandstede@house.mn or calling me at 651-296-0172. I also encourage you to “like” or “follow” my Facebook page here.

These are difficult times, and we don’t know how much longer the current situation will hold. By all Minnesotans doing their part – through things like hand washing and staying home – we can overcome this crisis.

Together,

Julie Sandstede
State Representative