“As of today, Minnesota has administered the vaccine to over 140,000 health care workers and Minnesotans most susceptible to COVID-19.” said Governor Walz. “The sun is rising on the pandemic, but we need to remain vigilant until we put the threat of COVID-19 behind us. The peacetime emergency gives us the tools to keep Minnesotans healthy and deliver the vaccine in a way that is effective, safe, and equitable.”

Minnesota’s peacetime emergency gives the state the tools necessary for the timely acquisition of supplies and technology to support the vaccine effort. It also supports the expansion Minnesota’s testing capacity; protects Minnesotans against evictions and wage garnishment; provides expedited procurement power for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other equipment; allows Minnesota to follow the advice of public health experts in combatting the spread of COVID-19; protects workers from unsafe worker conditions; requires Minnesotans to wear a face covering in certain settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and provides economic relief and stability to Minnesotans and small businesses impacted by the pandemic.

Last week, in a letter to the Minnesota Legislature, Governor Walz recognized a shared interest in finding a pathway to work collaboratively to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and to ensure an orderly end of the peacetime emergency when it is no longer needed. With a light now at the end of the tunnel, Governor Walz encouraged the Legislature to begin the work of enacting into law the core provisions of the emergency response that have been keeping Minnesotans safe. The laws will be needed to facilitate the wind-down of the peacetime emergency and related emergency executive orders at a time when the pandemic presents a less significant and rapidly evolving challenge to Minnesota.

Executive Order 21-04 has been approved by the Executive Council, which is made up of Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, Attorney General Ellison, Secretary of State Simon, and State Auditor Blaha.

House DFL Caucus Releases First Priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session

Minnesota House DFL leaders and legislators discussed their first priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session today. The legislation focuses on the ongoing pandemic and assisting Minnesotans struggling as a result of COVID-19.

“Minnesotans deserve to be safe, healthy, and have economic security,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “While vaccines bring hope that the end of the pandemic is in sight, COVID-19 continues to threaten our families and communities. House Democrats are focused on responding to the needs of Minnesotans, helping them weather this pandemic and thrive after it ends.”

“The work of the people of Minnesota must continue, despite threats of violence encouraged by top Republicans politicians and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “Despite the unprecedented challenges facing us, House Democrats will still work to advance a policy agenda to meet Minnesota’s needs. The priorities we are announcing today are immediate steps the Legislature can take to help the health and livelihoods of workers, families, and small businesses hurt the most by COVID-19.”

“No matter the difficulties we find ourselves in at the moment, House DFLers continue to work towards a Minnesota where everyone can thrive,” said House Deputy Majority Leader Liz Olson. “Our House DFL priorities will help protect the health, safety, and economic security of Minnesotans now during the pandemic, and ensure that those most impacted during the pandemic can live healthy and stable lives in the future."

The first bills include the following:

Economic Security – House File 1

• Housing assistance and homelessness prevention
• Emergency cash payments to families most in need
• Food security 
• Broadband expansion

Worker Protections – House File 2

• Emergency paid sick leave for health care workers
• Workers’ compensation for school employees who contract COVID-19 
• Getting hospitality workers back to work
• Expanding unemployment insurance to those collecting social security

Health Care and Human Services – House File 3

• Testing, vaccination, and staffing support for long-term care 
• Addressing health-related needs of those without shelter  

Education – House File 4

• Wrap-around student supports 
• Investments to address learning loss and opportunity gaps 
• Funding stabilization to address temporarily decreased enrollment

Child Care – House File 5

• Child care provider grants
• Wait list reduction

State Health Officials Respond to Federal Government’s Change in Vaccine Distribution Plan

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced today a series of changes to increase the supply of vaccines, extend eligibility to more seniors, and provide more locations for people to get shots.

• The federal government will base each state’s allocation of vaccines partly on how successful states have been in administering those already provided.
• The federal government will stop holding back the required second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, practically doubling supply. Both vaccines require two doses.
• The federal government is urging states to start vaccinating other groups lower down the priority scale including people age 65 and older and younger people with underlying health conditions.

During Tuesday afternoon’s Minnesota Department of Health media briefing, Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and Infectious Disease Division Director Kris Ehresmann were asked to respond to this development.

• Director Ehresmann said the state has not receive any information in writing about this announcement from the federal government. There is no increased allocation at this point. The usual system is that when the state learns of its allocation from the federal government on Tuesdays, it takes two days before it’s ordered. The order is shipped on Sunday night and comes into the state later that week. While there are no additional doses to put into arms at the moment, the state is planning how to vaccinate when more doses arrive – including standing up additional clinic sites.
• The Minnesota Department of Health was planning to begin vaccinating Phase 1B (frontline essential workers and adults 75 years and older) late January/early February. However, today’s announcement has impacted the planning for Phase 1B. Initially, state health officials were planning to announce prioritization within Phase 1B next week. Today’s news requires the state to re-evaluate those plans.
• When asked about how this announcement would impact essential workers in the Phase 1B group, such as firefighters and teachers, if the state has to vaccinate everyone 65 and older, Director Ehresmann responded that plans for Phase 1B will need to be reviewed. Individuals who are 65 and older and individuals 16-64 with underlying health conditions represents 30%-40% of the state population.  If the state adds 75-years-old and older only (about 380,000 Minnesotans), adds 65-years-old and older (530,000 Minnesotans), and adds those who are 16-64 years old with underlying health conditions, overall that’s adding a couple million people who will expect to be vaccinated. Meanwhile, the state is currently only getting 60,000 doses a week.
• While today’s announcement from the federal government was welcome, the state is following the adage of “trust, but verify” as it moves forward with planning. If the vaccine supply increases in the near term, the state is ready for it based on months of planning.
• The latest COVID-19 vaccination information can be found at: mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/

Amos A. Briggs | Government Relations
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