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One Year of Emergency Powers
Last Saturday marked the one-year anniversary of the Governor declaring a peacetime emergency, in order to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Governor continues to insist that his emergency powers are needed. But as COVID-19 cases across our state and the nation continue to fall, and vaccinations ramp up, many believe that the governor should end those peacetime emergency powers and start to work with the legislature once again.
I have now voted 16 times to end the emergency powers. Sadly, each of these attempts to return our state to normal governance has failed.
Other states across the nation, run by both Democrats and Republicans, have started the process of reopening and returning to regular governance. We should be able to do the same here in Minnesota. The number of ICU beds being used for COVID-19 are lower now than when the crises started over a year ago.
The “emergency” is over. We should now move into the management and recovery phase and that is best done through dialogue. Minnesotans deserve to have their voices heard, and that occurs through our three branches of co-equal government.
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Lifting Restrictions
I would like to pass along an update on our situation in Minnesota, as the Governor announced that he is turning back the dials last Friday.
Unless otherwise noted, these adjustments were effective at noon on Monday, March 15. They include measures to:
Make it easier to safely gather with family:
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Social gatherings: Up to 50 people outdoors or 15 people for indoor gatherings, both without household limits.
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Youth sports: Pod size increasing to 50 for outdoor activities.
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Religious services: Remove occupancy limit, but maintain social distancing.
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Celebrations: Follow venue guidance.
Support small businesses:
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Bars and restaurants: Increasing allowable occupancy to 75%, up from 50%, with a limit of 250 people. The limits apply separately indoors and outdoors. Bar seating increases to parties of 4.
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Salons/barbers: Removing the occupancy limit, but social distancing required.
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Gyms/fitness centers/pools: Increasing allowable occupancy to 50%, up from 25%. Outdoor classes can increase to 50 people.
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Entertainment venues: Increasing allowable occupancy to 50%, up from 25%, both indoors and outdoors, with a limit of 250.
As summer nears, the state will adjust guidelines for large venues. All venues can open at 50% capacity up to 250 people. Venues with normal occupant capacity over 500 can add additional guests, effective April 1:
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Seated outdoor venues can add an additional 25% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 10,000 people.
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Non-seated outdoor venues can add an additional 15% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 10,000 people.
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Seated indoor venues can add an additional 15% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 3,000 people.
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Non-seated indoor venues can add an additional 10% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 1,500 people.
As more Minnesotans are vaccinated, work from home will no longer be required – but it will continue to be strongly recommended – beginning April 15. All employers should continue to accommodate employees who wish to work from home.
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Vaccine Eligibility Update
On Wednesday, March 10 vaccine eligibility expanded to the next two groups of priority populations – more than 1.8 million Minnesotans will become eligible to receive a vaccine beginning this week. These newly-eligible Minnesotans, the state has directed providers to prioritize appointments for individuals in the first of these groups. Providers will then have the flexibility to offer available appointments to people in the second group.
The first group includes:
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People with specific underlying health conditions: including Sickle cell disease, Down Syndrome, or oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart conditions, and those who are in active cancer treatment or are immunocompromised from an organ transplant
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Targeted essential workers: Food processing plant workers
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Minnesotans with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk of severe illness
The second group includes:
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People age 45 and older with ONE or more of the following underlying medical conditions; or, age 16 and over with TWO or more of the following underlying medical conditions (learn more about these conditions on the Who’s Getting Vaccinated page):
- Active cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Diabetes - Type 1 or 2
- Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from HIV, bone marrow disease, chronic steroids for more than 30 days, immunodeficiency disease, or from taking immunosuppressive medications
- Obesity - body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2
- Pregnancy
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People 50+ in multi-generational housing
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Essential frontline workers: Agricultural, airport staff, additional child care workers not previously eligible, correctional settings, first responders, food production, food retail, food service, judicial system workers, manufacturing, public health workers, public transit, Postal Service workers.
In the days ahead, the Vaccine Connector will inform newly-eligible Minnesotans about vaccine opportunities in their area. If you are eligible, you may also be selected to make an appointment at one of the state’s COVID-19 Community Vaccination Program sites. If you are selected, you will be notified by text, email, or phone call by one of the state vaccination partners running those sites, Vault Health or Primary Bio. Additional community vaccination sites may launch as the federal government makes more vaccines available in the future.
If you are eligible to get vaccinated, you do not have to wait for information from the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector before you get your shot. You can connect with your primary health care provider or use the Find Vaccine Locations map to find a vaccine appointment near you. If you are an essential frontline worker, your employer may be reaching out with information about vaccination opportunities.
Visit the Who’s Getting Vaccinated page to learn more about the phases and when you will become eligible.
Vaccine Information Links
With the rapid availability of new information on COVID-19 and the vaccine process, it is best to check the following links regularly for updates:
If you have a link to local information that would be helpful to add to this list, please send that information my way. I will keep this section as a fixture on future updates.
Please stay in touch and let me know if there is any way I can assist in overcoming this challenge. You can always reach me at 651-296-5066 or rep.greg.boe@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Greg
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313 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.5066 |
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