Dear Neighbors,
Governor Walz Announcing Focus on Small Business Aid
Today, Governor Walz is planning to highlight the urgent need to provide significant relief to small businesses throughout the state. Many larger corporations are seeing record profits while our small and local businesses are struggling to stay afloat. New and sustained relief for our small business community is required to ensure we have local stores to return to when we beat this virus.
New Phone App to Help Track the Spread; Please Download!
A new app, COVIDaware MN, is now available for free to all Minnesotans. The voluntary, anonymous application will alert a user if another user with whom they have had close contact during the virus’ infectious period tests positive for COVID-19. This app is completely safe to use and does not share any of the users private data. This second wave of COVID-19 has been defined by community spread where it is often unclear where exactly someone contracted the virus, leading to difficulty tracing the virus. This app will help with this tracing and let you know if you have potentially been exposed to COVID. You can learn more and download the app here.
Testing at Home Now Available
Testing is now easier than ever with at home testing available for all Minnesotans. This testing is available for everyone, with or without symptoms, at no cost. Visit the Vault Medical Services website to order a test. When you are ready to take the test, you will log in to access the Vault virtual waiting room and do a video visit with a Vault test supervisor. They can give you instructions and make sure you do the test the right way. You will then send the test to the lab in Oakdale, Minnesota, using the prepaid package. Once it arrives at the lab, you will get your test results by email in 24-48 hours.
In person testing is still available if you need or if you aren’t able to wait for the mailing period. You can find state testing locations and schedule a testing time here. There are two private sites with different rules around how to get tested available in Shakopee, one at the Hy-Vee Pharmacy, and another at the Allina Health Shakopee Clinic, find their contact info here to see if you can get a test with them.
New Covid-19 Rules as Virus Surges Out of Control
Unfortunately, Covid is spreading at record levels throughout Shakopee, Scott County, and the entire country. There are nearly 1,500 new cases in Scott County alone, increasing the total number of healthcare workers infected to 333. This disease is having a devastating effect on the very people caring for us, and it is undercutting our ability to care for our sick loved ones. We have reached our capacity to manage this virus. Governor Walz has announced a number of new actions designed to reign in the virus.
Last week, Governor Walz announced the following restrictions:
- Restaurants will be take-out only for the next 4 weeks
- Gyms and fitness centers will also close for 4 weeks
- Theaters, movie theater, bowling alleys, museums, and arcades will all be closed
- Wedding receptions, celebrations and private parties are put on hold as well
- Limit all social gatherings with people outside of you household
- All youth sports are on pause, there have been too many cases connected to sports for them to continue safely
- It is also advised that you avoid interstate travel
If you have the ability, please continue to get takeout from your favorite local restaurants, they are going to need your help more than ever. No one wants to see increased restrictions; we are all fatigued by the ongoing fight against COVID-19. But these restrictions are necessary to help reverse the spread of this virus and save lives. We aren’t at a point where we can return to normal. These restrictions are a direct result of Minnesotans returning to too many pre-covid activities without taking the proper preventative measures. I understand that this is difficult, but we must remain strict when it comes to managing this virus. For everyone's sake, please continue to limit gatherings, wear masks, and social distance.
It is increasingly clear that Minnesota needs federal assistance. We need immediate action on a new COVID relief package, and an extension on flexibility to utilize resources allocated to state and local governments in the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Our state and local governments can’t combat this devastating virus alone, we must come together as a nation to fight for one another.
Brad Tabke, State Representative | Rep.Brad.Tabke@house.mn
Addie Miller, Legislative Assistant | adeline.miller@house.mn