St. Paul, MN – Following a week that saw the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, the Minnesota Legislature has since passed legislation to reinforce the efforts of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) with an unanimously-supported bill that invested $20.8 million. Since then, Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL – St. Cloud) has worked with his colleagues to craft legislation aimed at addressing issues that may arise as a result of the coronavirus in Minnesota.
“We’re in a moment of uncertainty right now, but it’s imperative that these challenging times are met with smart and responsible legislation,” said Rep. Wolgamott. “The package of bills my colleagues and I are working on would make sure that during and after this virus, Minnesota remains strong. Now, more than ever, we need to make sure Minnesotans have access to the healthcare they need, the wages they deserve, and the goods they require. We’re going to see this through, thanks to the tireless efforts of our public health professionals, and our work at the State Capitol is going to be focused on making sure we remain responsive to this issue as it evolves.”
Rep. Wolgamott is a co-author of the following COVID-19 preparedness bills:
- HF 4414 - Unemployment Insurance and sick leave benefits expanded during an outbreak of a communicable disease
- HF 4415 - Hourly school employees compensated in event of public health emergency shutdown
- HF 4416 - Health plans required to cover testing, treatment, and quarantine without cost-sharing
- HF 4454 – Ban on price gouging goods and services in time of an emergency
Minnesotans are reminded to take basic precautions to prevent the spread of the illness, including frequent, thorough hand washing, covering their cough with their sleeve, and staying home when sick. The Minnesota Department of Health has comprehensive information on its website, and a hotline is available at 651-201-3920.
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