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Legislative News and Views - Rep. John Persell (DFL)

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Legislative Update - March 13, 2020

Friday, March 13, 2020

Rep. Persell

Dear neighbors, 

Today, Governor Walz declared a peacetime emergency in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, often called the coronavirus.

Public health officials are working around the clock to prepare for and stop the spread of COVID-19, and the Minnesota House, Senate, Governor’s Office, and Department of Health (MDH) are in near constant communication. We’re taking swift, proactive, and thoughtful action to ensure that Minnesota is prepared.

The House and Senate unanimously voted to deliver nearly $21 million in funding for emergency response efforts earlier this week, but more action is needed. Earlier this week, House DFLers introduced a package of bills to prepare for the spread of COVID-19 and provide relief to Minnesotans who are impacted. The bills we’re working on would:

  • Require health plans to cover all costs of testing, treatment, and quarantine related to COVID-19.
  • Ban price gouging of necessary goods and services.
  • Expand unemployment insurance and paid sick leave benefits.
  • Compensate hourly school workers for days canceled or missed due to COVID-19.
  • Establish a grant and loan program to ensure health care providers have the resources to respond.

My colleagues and I will work with the Governor’s Office and the Minnesota Senate to enact these measures quickly.

This afternoon, MDH released a series of recommendations designed to make person-to-person transmission less likely. Their recommendations include canceling or postponing large gatherings and events, keeping a distance between yourself and others, limiting nonessential travel, and more. A full list is available here. You can watch today’s briefing with Governor Walz and MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm here.

We all have a part to play in keeping our neighbors and communities safe. Minnesotans should take basic precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Cover coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or a tissue. And if you’re feeling sick, stay home.

You can visit www.health.state.mn or call MDH’s public hotline at 651-201-3920 for up-to-date and accurate information about COVID-19. The hotline is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

I will do my best to keep our community updated as I receive more information. I encourage you to reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

John Persell
State Representative