Minnesota House of Representatives

• Omnibus Agriculture and Broadband bill passed 69-63.
• Omnibus Tax bill passed 68-66.
• Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources bill passed 40-26.
  

Minnesota Senate

• Omnibus E-12 Education bill passed 37-29.
• Omnibus Transportation bill passed 70-63.
  

Neither chamber is expected thave a floor session tomorrow for the purpose of passing budget bills.

Minnesota Department of Health Briefing

Today, officials from the Minnesota Department of Health conducted a media briefing with reporters tupdate the public on the spread of COVID-19 and discuss COVID-19 vaccination.

Commissioner Jan Malcolm, Department of Health

Commissioner Malcolm reported 1,973 new cases of COVID-19. The state’s cumulative total of COVID-19 cases now stands at 562,420.

• Yesterday, the state received 43,800 COVID-19 lab tests.
• Another 10 Minnesotans died due tCOVID-19. The state’s cumulative total of COVID-19 deaths now stands at 7,054.
• Currently, 683 patients are hospitalized for COVID-19 with 196 of those in the ICU.
• Almost 3,840,000 total vaccine doses have been administered tMinnesotans (first and second doses).
• Almost 2,350,000 Minnesotans, which is 42% of the state’s population, have had at least one vaccine dose.
• Over 1,670,000 Minnesotans, which is just over 30% of the total population, have had the complete vaccination series.
• Despite the fact that Minnesotans are getting vaccinated each day, cases have started going up again in all age groups, especially children and adults under 60-years-old.
• Over the past month, an increasing number of people are being admitted thospitals and ICU units ttreat COVID-19. The average age of hospital admissions is 10 years younger now than it was back in November. Average age is now 59-years-old. Back in November/December, it was 69-years-old.
• The rate of growth in cases has shown signs of stabilizing in the last week or so. The state is still seeing steadily increasing cases 1,500-2,000 cases a day, but it’s not the exponential rate of growth that the state saw in late fall. Minnesota is still seeing large numbers of cases each week of 10,000 t12,000 or more, which translates tmany people with severe disease needing hospital care and many people developing ongoing health consequences with unknown implications for their future health.
• This is not the time tlet down our guard. This is the time tfinish strong. We have tremember some people, a lot of people – including children under the age of 16 cannot yet be vaccinated, sit’s extra important that all of us whcan be vaccinated dsin order treduce the risk tthem,” said Commissioner Malcolm.
• The commissioner noted that there is a common misperception that if kids are infected with COVID-19, it’s insignificant because kids don’t get very sick. She corrected the record tsay that some kids dget very sick and the public does not fully understand the long-term health impact of this illness on kids, including Multi-Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).
• The state estimates more than 60% of all COVID-19 cases in Minnesota are the B117 variant (UK variant), which is more contagious and producing higher rates of hospitalization.
• Commissioner Malcolm said the spread of the virus among younger people is a concern for the state. The number of school-related COVID-19 cases in students exceed the high level set in November during the fall surge. She outlined twsteps taddress this:
• First, students 16-and-older whare currently eligible for vaccination should get vaccinated. This cuts down on the number of opportunities for a virus tfind its ways intclassroom or sports activity. It’s easier tfind and schedule appointments for vaccination now.
• Second, regular COVID testing is important. It allows schools and teens tcatch cases early and tkeep them from spreading undetected. Testing prevents an isolated problem from becoming a much bigger problem that drags down a whole school, a team, or a season. Beginning on Monday, April 26, in order for Minnesota schools tcontinue in-person learning and continue sports season, the state is increasing testing efforts and support. More information can be found here.
• The state has announced that participants in outdoor sports will have the option tremove their face covering while on the field or court. The face covering must be worn while not actively playing – such as on the sidelines or dugout. Face coverings must alscontinue tbe worn at all times for indoor sports.
• Commissioner Malcolm concluded her opening remarks by saying, We’re all really tired of the pandemic and its many, many impacts. We are closer tthe end now, but we need thang in there a bit longer. How quickly we get tthe end, what happens over the next couple of months, for our community and specifically for our schools, is up tall of us. We can protect the progress we’ve made and minimize problems we’ve seen now. Decisions we make now ttest, mask, and get the vaccine impact how quickly we will get tthe end of this pandemic, which we all sdesperately want.”

Amos A. Briggs | Government Relations
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