March 31, 2020
April 3, 2020
Governor Walz began the March 31, 2020 COVID-19 update with two new executive orders. The first, Executive order 20-25, extends licences of peace officers, firefighters, and private security personnel, so they can continue working furiously to fight the chaos of COVID-19. The second, Executive order 20-26, stretches recertification dates for medical cannabis patient enrollments that are set to expire in the coming months. He then stated some of our state’s new updated COVID statistics: 2 new deaths and a total of 629 confirmed cases. After Governor Walz was done speaking, Minnesota department of health commissioner Jan Malcom took over.
Malcom reported the new age range of COVID-19 cases in Minnesota as 4 months to 104 years. There are 56 current patients being treated for the coronavirus, but 288 people have recovered. Sadly, the two new deaths today create a total of 12 deaths in Minnesota. There were also 53 new confirmed cases and without a doubt, many more unconfirmed cases circulating the state. Once Jan Malcolm finished up her update, Joe Kelly, director of homeland security started. Hope is not a plan. — Governor Walz
Kelly revealed the state’s plan for alternate care sites, large facilities other than hospitals that could be used as care centers exclusively for people with COVID-19. Alternate care planners looked at seven different sites and determined that five could be potential alternate care facilities. Kelly shares that the facilities won’t be immediately converted into care sites but they will be mapped out and planned so if the need arises, the facilities can be easily transitioned, which would take about 48 to 72 hours. The funding for the alternate care sites come primarily from FEMA; however, Kelly was unsure how the sites will be staffed at this time. Kelly also reported that he had no predicted cost for the alternate care sites at the moment. Kelly ended his message by stating that he hoped that we would not need any of these alternate care sites and quoting Governor Walz, who advised that “hope is not a plan.”
Dr. Heather Mueller, the final guest speaker, then began her speech by reminding the audience that today was the second day of distance learning. She urged families to continue to have patience as we progress through the new distance learning process. She wrapped up her section by reporting that she got a waiver approved, officially cancelling this year’s MCAs in Minnesota.
In closing comments, Governor Walz likes to tell a positive story. Today he shared a story from the New Ulm journal. Tammy Kuiper, a resident in Springfield, ordered 128 bouquets of flowers from a local flower shop and sent them to St. John’s Lutheran home, a senior care facility.