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The Governor is committed to saving lives as COVID-19 cases spike – and making sure we are protecting our local economy at the same time. The Walz Administration added occupations to the “Critical Sector Descriptions” that are now exempt from the Stay at Home order and can work immediately. These include the following workers and employers:
- Lawncare and landscaping workers;
- Workers supporting garden centers or stores, provided that such centers or stores adhere to guidance provided by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture;
- Workers supporting florists for the sale for delivery only of perishable plant stock. Workers delivering perishable plant stock are strongly encouraged to drop off product at the front door of nursing homes and hospitals to avoid contact with vulnerable populations.
Continued modeling and data from the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota will continue to inform the Governor’s decisions regarding executive action.
Protecting our First Responders
On Tuesday, the Legislature passed legislation delivering workers’ compensation benefits to health care and public safety workers who contract COVID-19 in the line of duty. In particular, the legislation provides a presumption that if these workers contract COVID, they did so during the course of their employment and are covered by workers’ comp. Front-line workers covered in the bill include doctors and nurses, firefighters, paramedics, police, long-term care workers, home health workers, correctional officers, and child care providers. This was long overdue, but glad the Senate joined us in the House in getting this done. The Governor signed the bill into law on Wednesday.
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