Neighbors,
Many of you are experiencing stress and anxiety about our situation. I want to assure you that our well-respected public health officials and medical professionals, along with Gov. Walz, the experts in his cabinet and your legislative partners, are looking out for our health and security. We are in good hands.
COVID-19 Aid Package Approved
On Thursday, we returned to the Capitol, within the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines, to approve a package of aid to help our neighbors coping with major disruptions from the COVID-19 virus.
Highlights of the bill include:
- Funding for small business loans, including restaurants and bars.
- One-time grants for childcare providers.
- Financial assistance for food banks, food shelves, and related transportation costs.
- Investments in secure, safe housing for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and Minnesotans experiencing homelessness.
- Extends the time frame for Minnesotans to renew driver’s licenses, permits, or disability parking permits that expire during the peacetime emergency (no additional fees would be charged for these extensions).
To read about all the COVID-19 news from the Capitol, click here. And read Session Daily for more news.
This crisis will have long lasting impacts on Minnesotans’ health and economic wellbeing. We are already looking ahead at how to address long-term disruptions to our lives.
STAY AT HOME
This week, Gov. Walz signed a Stay at Home Executive Order (EO), directing Minnesotans to limit movements outside their homes beyond essential needs. The EO takes effect at midnight tonight, lasting through Friday, April 10. You can see a video from Gov. Walz on the EO here. More answers to questions about the order can be found here.
Impact on Diverse Communities
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is working with diverse communities to minimize impacts from COVID-19. Below is a forwarded message from Minnesota Immigrant and Refugee Health with updates and resources for community organizations.
Updates on MDH Multilingual Resources for COVID-19
- The basic MDH overview of COVID-19 is now available in 20 languages (French, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Swahili, Tagalog, and Ukrainian were added to the existing languages)
- The one-page “Health Care Resources” document tells how to access health insurance and low-cost clinics. The document was created by MDH with input from MNsure and the MN Department of Human Services. (Available in 20 languages: French, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Swahili, Tagalog, and Ukrainian were added to the existing languages)
- The "Prevent the Spread of COVID-19" Poster is still available in 7 languages. Additional languages are being added.
- Our video on "How to Wash Your Hands" is now available in English and Spanish, Chinese, Hmong, Somali and Vietnamese. Additional languages are being added.
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You can contact me at rep.sydney.jordan@house.mn or (651) 296-4219. Be sure to “like” my official state representative Facebook page!
Thank you for the privilege of serving District 60A in the legislature.
Sincerely,
Sydney Jordan
State Representative
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