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Dear Neighbors,
News is evolving quickly on the COVID-19 virus. Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm are holding a news conference
at 1 p.m. today to announce mitigation strategies in response to COVID-19.
You can watch the news conference live at this link:
https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/live/1
This week, the House and Senate acted quickly to help Minnesota prepare. We unanimously approved, and Gov. Walz signed into law, bipartisan legislation for immediate funding to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) if the virus results in a major health crisis in Minnesota. Read the news release from Gov. Walz on the state response to the outbreak. Other information and resources can be found on the Minnesota Department of Health website.
The COVID-19 Hotline is available for questions at (651) 201-3920 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
This Wednesday, House leaders announced additional COVID-19 measures to help prepare for the virus. Our package of bills includes:
- clarification on when a governor can declare a peacetime emergency,
- establishing a health care revolving loan account,
- expansion of unemployment insurance to include sick time payments during a communicable disease outbreak,
- compensating hourly school workers for cancelation days,
- cost-free COVID-19 – related testing, treatment and quarantine, and
- banning price gouging on goods/services during an emergency.
You can read more details about these proposals here.
Your best source of accurate and timely information is the Minnesota Department of Health.
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You can contact me at rep.erin.koegel@house.mn or
(651) 296-5369.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve our district in the legislature.
Sincerely,
Erin Koegel
State Representative
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