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Dear neighbors,
Yesterday, Governor Walz urged Minnesotans to follow a new series of recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19. These recommendations include canceling large events and gatherings, keeping a distance between yourself and others, avoiding travel, and more. A full list is available here.
Earlier this week, House DFLers introduced a package of bills to prepare for the spread of COVID-19 and provide relief to Minnesotans who are impacted. The bills we’re working on would:
- Require health plans to cover all costs of testing, treatment, and quarantine related to COVID-19.
- Ban price gouging of necessary goods and services.
- Expand unemployment insurance and paid sick leave benefits.
- Compensate hourly school workers for days canceled or missed due to COVID-19.
- Establish a grant and loan program to ensure health care providers have the resources to respond.
My colleagues and I will work with the Governor’s Office and the Minnesota Senate to enact these measures quickly.
We all have a part to play in keeping our neighbors and communities safe. Please take basic precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Cover coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or a tissue. And if you’re feeling sick, stay home.
As I mentioned in my last email, you can visit www.health.state.mn or call MDH’s public hotline at 651-201-3920 for up-to-date and accurate information about COVID-19. The hotline is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Please be sure to be careful and look out for one another. I’ll do my best to keep you updated as I receive more information.
Sincerely,
Leon Lillie
State Representative
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