Under the coronavirus aid package passed by the Minnesota Legislature Thursday, child care providers can apply for a $4,500 monthly grant, with larger centers eligible for an additional monthly grant of up to $15,500, based on capacity.
Even if restrictions on gatherings subside in the wake of COVID-19, having voters come into voting precincts to cast ballots this fall — not to mention having poll workers staff election sites — might not be a wise option.
The bill provides money for child care centers, homeless services, food banks and small business loans. It also establishes the COVID-19 Minnesota Fund, which will receive $200 million to “protect Minnesota citizens” and “maintain state government operations.”
Under the legislation’s guidelines, grants from the emergency fund can cover supplies and space but also staff overtime, hiring or training.
The state’s continuity of operations plan calls for the governor and lieutenant governor to stay away from each other as a means of preventing both from becoming sick with COVID-19 at the same time.
Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm also said the supply chain continues to be a problem when it comes to COVID-19 testing, especially when it comes to collecting samples.
What Minnesota’s stay-at-home order restricts (and doesn’t) — and how it will be enforced.
“It doesn’t mean you don’t step out of your house,” the governor said of the executive order. “This does not mean that you can’t do some of the things that keep life functioning on. But it does mean that we’re getting more restrictive.”
By splitting up the conference calls by party, lawmakers were able to avoid triggering rules on open meetings.
The state reported 262 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, an increase of 27 over Monday’s count.
COVID-19 has hit the families of Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. Then, on Monday morning, Gov. Tim Walz announced he was self-quarantining after a member of his security detail tested positive for the virus.
Despite the help from Mayo and potentially other labs, the state will “continue to focus on the highest priority patients” until officials are sure there’s a reliable supply chain to support more expansive testing.
Gov. Tim Walz doesn’t consider a “shelter-in-place” order necessary now but may make such an order in the future.
The longer schools and businesses stay shut, the more uncertain the future is for many providers.
Minnesota has a record-high rainy day fund, a substantial surplus and an unemployment insurance trust fund that tops $1.5 billion. Is that enough to withstand the expected economic downturn from the coronavirus outbreak?
A quick summary of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s Wednesday press conference on the state’s efforts to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
In Minnesota, the problem is that some supplies needed for testing are in short supply.
Bus companies across the state have seen a plummet in bookings as people clamp down on non-essential travel and schools close their doors.
At least for now. A resolution adopted in the early morning Tuesday said lawmakers would reconvene April 14.
The new guidelines seek to limit tests to health care workers, hospitalized people and people living in close quarters.
