Over the phone, Governor Walz and his team have kept Minnesota updated.
Recent Governor Walz updates
Over the past week, Governor Walz has kept Minnesotans in the loop on the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
April 3, 2020
April 2, 2020
During the April 2 COVID-19 briefing, Governor Walz announced a plan to get more accurate information out to the public. Inaccurate information can be potentially dangerous, so Walz finds it important to give updates frequently. He also addressed how it’s important to not share too much information with the public so people’s private information is safe. The new accurate information should become available soon. Governor Walz has also been working with commissioner Steve Kelly to eliminate cost sharing for COVID-19 victims.
Steve Kelly was in on the call. He shared the new waving cost plan for COVID-19 victims. Governor Walz and Steve Kelly feel like it’s important that victims of the virus won’t be drowning in hospital payments during the crisis. With insurance, patients who’ve been hospitalized from COVID-19 will have no out of pocket costs for their treatment.
Jan Malcolm shared further updates on Minnesota’s health. As of April 2, 2020, there were 742 lab confirmed cases of COVID-19. There were an additional 53 added to the total from April 1. With one more death, the total number of deaths in Minnesota had reached 18. There are currently 138 people hospitalized for COVID-19, which is an increase of 75 from April 1. On a higher note, 373 Minnesotans have recovered from the virus and are now back in their homes.
The state is still unable to give out as many tests for COVID-19 as they would like. Some groups of people are prioritized for COVID-19 testing because they are more at risk of getting or spreading the virus. Prioritized people include healthcare workers and people living in congregate settings. Commissioner Jan Malcolm makes it clear that people living in congregate settings aren’t just people in nursing homes. Clinics have been turning down testing to people living in other congregate care, but she hopes that will no longer continue.
To close the conference, Governor Walz answered the press’ questions. When asked how likely it is that schools will close for the rest of the year, like they have in other states, Governor Walz confirmed the potential outcome. He stressed, “I think it’s a relatively strong possibility that that will happen here too. I think the chance of being able to gather back at school is relatively slim.” That is not the news many were looking to hear. Yet nothing is currently set in stone.
April 1, 2020
At Governor Tim Walz’s April 1st press conference, Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm updated listeners on the current state of the COVID-19 crisis in Minnesota. With 689 lab confirmed cases and 17 total deaths, her message was clear that the virus still poses a serious threat. During a time of crisis such as this, tragedy can be overwhelming, yet Gov. Walz was pleased to see a truly Minnesotan response during these difficult times.
State Emergency Operator Director Joe Kelly reported on the extent of this heartening response. Amazed at the over 800 offers of help to fulfill health, manufacturing, and awareness needs from Minnesota businesses and citizens, Director Kelly stated that “It’s really gratifying to see how much you want to help Minnesota get through this.”
Many talented individuals have also put their abilities to use by sewing high quality protective face masks that meet government health standards. With the supply of hospitals’ Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) quickly running dry, these sewn masks will surely help in the fight against COVID-19.
To be part of this Minnesotan response, there are many ways to get involved. Commissioner Malcolm stated that one of the best ways to help out during this crisis is to give blood. With virus fears, a severe shortage of blood donations has developed; “The blood supply is under a lot of stress with blood drives being cancelled,” stated the Commissioner, “but people can be assured that giving blood is safe.” While the Commissioner encouraged individuals to satisfy this medical need, she reiterated the importance of practicing hygienical wisdom and social distancing while supporting the blood bank and helping those in need.
Of course, one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus is to continue social distancing. Although Minnesotans have been exceptionally successful in maintaining this practice so far, the Governor wanted to ingeminate this philosophy as the upcoming holiday season that normally calls for large family gatherings quickly approaches.
With troubling times in the near past and more soon to come, Gov. Walz and his staff are more than pleased with Minnesota’s prudent, sensible, and level headed response.
March 31, 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.
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.