Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm issued the following statement on the new COVID-19 variant called Omicron.
“Minnesota health officials are closely tracking international reports of a new COVID-19 variant, called Omicron (B.1.1.529). The World Health Organization has named Omicron a variant of concern, and scientists are working hard to learn more about its transmissibility and virulence, and how well vaccines may protect a person against it. At this point no Omicron cases have been reported in Minnesota or the United States. Fortunately, Minnesota has built one of the nation’s strongest genomic sequencing and variant surveillance systems. If an Omicron variant infection is found in Minnesota, we will share that information as soon as possible.”
It is more important than ever to promote vaccination for those who are still unvaccinated and encouraging vaccinated individuals to receive their booster dose. We are here to help! If you need options or resources to bring vaccine onsite, or materials to support vaccine education, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Health.R-Congregate@state.mn.us.
To prevent COVID-19 cases, we recommend you continue to follow all of the tools you are familiar with:
Encourage staff and clients/residents to:
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Get vaccinated. Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection, and the chances of getting seriously ill due to Delta after being fully vaccinated are super low.
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Wear a mask when in shared spaces, even when fully vaccinated. We also recommend masking in crowded outdoor settings when physical distancing cannot be maintained. If you allowed staff to remove masks in staff only spaces (e.g., break rooms, meeting rooms), reinstate masking.
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Remain physically distanced.
As soon as you learn of a case:
Since August 2021, providers have convened for monthly peer-to-peer conversations. The peer-to-peer conversations are an opportunity for providers to ask questions, hear what their counterparts from other organizations are doing, and support one another. On the webinar tomorrow, a few people who have been regularly joining these conversations will share their experience and ideas for broader participation in future conversations. We would love to get your feedback. Please consider the following questions ahead of our discussion tomorrow:
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Are there specific topic areas that you would like future conversations to focus on?
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What would make these conversations most useful to your work?
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Are there any barriers that could be alleviated that would make it easier to participate in future conversations?
The next conversation is scheduled for Tuesday, December 14 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.. The proposed discussion topic is supporting and motivating staff. You can join the Microsoft Teams meeting on your computer or mobile device, or for audio only call, 651-395-7448 and enter conference ID 979281139. You do not need to register. If you have any technical questions or trouble joining the meeting, please email Elizabeth Dressel.
We hope you can join us tomorrow from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. for this discussion. Staff will be available to answer any question you may have.
The Office of Economic Opportunity at the Department of Human Services is seeking proposals from qualified responders (non-profit organizations, local unit of governments, Tribal governments) to acquire and/or renovate, equip, and furnish emergency shelter facilities for individuals and/or families experiencing homelessness. The request for proposal can be found on the DHS Open Grants, RFPs, and RFIs page. Proposals are due January 28, 2022.
Awarded funds will prioritize investments that help congregate shelter settings prevent transmission of infectious diseases, including physical modifications to spaces to reduce transmission risks or increase physical separation of shelter guests, and acquisition of new shelter space that can operate effectively either by design or through renovation in the context of an infectious disease outbreak. Approximately $17 million is available in grants. Please contact Katelyn Warburton with any questions.
The Emergency Staffing Pool is a resource that has been available for residential programs experiencing COVID-19 related staffing shortages to have temporary staff deployed for up to 14 days. The program has been funded with Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds that must be spent by December 31, 2021. Due to this funding requirement, the program will be end on December 31, 2021. Applications will be accepted through December 14, 2021. Eligible facilities that have at least one suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case among staff or guests can still apply though the online application. If you have any questions, visit the DHS FAQ page or reach out to Elizabeth Dressel.
The Task Force on Shelter convened in August 2021 and will work together until August 2022 to complete two reports to the is established to develop standards for the provision of shelter and examine the need for, and feasibility and cost of, establishing state oversight of shelter. The group is required to examine existing shelter policies and practices in shelters of all types, engage stakeholders, and make recommendations to the legislature regarding standards that will strengthen the shelter system and ensure that shelters have the ability and resources to provide safe and appropriate shelter services to those in need. You can find out more about the Task Force’s work to date here.
Applications are being accepted now for two open vacancies on the Task Force through the Secretary of State’s open appointments site. Apply online for the two vacant seats:
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One public member seat for an individual who experienced homelessness and resided in a shelter
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One city representative from a greater Minnesota
People who previously applied will need to apply again. If anyone is unable to apply via computer, please reach out to Elizabeth Dressel, 651-248-5548, to request assistance in completing the application. An additional set of questions will be emailed to applicants once they complete the online application through the Secretary of State’s Office. Per the Open Appointments statue, all information provided on the application and supplemental questions is public data.
Please share this information with your network and encourage anyone who may be interested to apply!
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