Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 10/14/2020 10:29 AM CDT
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Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates

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Minnesota Department of Health

October 14, 2020

The Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Update is being sent to the following three MDH mailing lists to reduce duplication:

  • Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates
  • MN Immigrant and Refugee Health Announcements
  • The Center for Health Equity

Today's COVID-19 updates include:

Status of COVID-19 in Minnesota

Updated October 13, 2020

  • Total positive: 114,574
  • Patients who no longer need to be isolated: 102,624
  • Total approximate number of completed tests: 2,355,124
  • Deaths: 2,151
    o Deaths among cases that resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities: 1,524
  • Total cases requiring hospitalization: 8,500
    o Hospitalized in ICU as of today: 2,328

Numbers are cumulative since Jan. 20, 2020.

The number of lab-confirmed positive tests among Minnesota residents will be updated daily on Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with test results from the previous day. The page also includes a map of counties with confirmed cases, and more.

This total reflects only the results from laboratory testing. There are more cases in Minnesota, and the virus is circulating in communities. It is important for everyone to follow advice on community mitigation and social distancing to help us flatten the case curve.

Governor has launched a public dashboard which includes race data of cases: Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard.

Upcoming Testing Events

COVID-19 Community Testing

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) works in partnership with communities to provide safe and free on-site COVID-19 testing in areas with outbreaks, increasing cases, or other barriers to access existing test sites.

Newly listed: 

Aitkin

Alexandria

Anoka

Faribault

Luverne

New Hope

St. Alphonsus

 

New & Updated Materials

Translated videos

New Guidance

 

Updated MDH Guidance

 

Other Updates

Complete your Census Today to Ensure you are Counted!

The 2020 Census has been extended through Oct. 31 and thousands of Minnesota households have not yet been counted. It’s crucial that the Census gets a complete and accurate count of everyone living in our state.

If you haven’t done so already, please respond to the 2020 Census today, and encourage others to do the same. It’s quick and easy to respond at https://my2020census.gov on your computer or smartphone, or by calling 844-330-2020. To spread the word, share the Gov and Lt. Gov’s Facebook announcements.

As a reminder, when you respond to the Census, you help ensure Minnesota gets our fair share of political representation in Washington, and that our neighborhoods and communities get the resources they need to thrive. 

Vote, Vote, Vote

Minnesota’s Secretary of State's Office (SOS) is encouraging eligible voters to VOTE FROM HOME to reduce the spread of disease and keep our communities healthy. Voting from home is easy and available to any voter through the absentee balloting system. Visit the SOS’s Elections& Voting webpage for information on registering, requesting an absentee ballot, and/or finding early voting locations.

Disability Hub MN™ is now on Facebook!

Disability Hub MN is a free statewide resource network that helps solve problems, navigate the system, and plan for the future. The team knows the ins and outs of community resources and government programs, and have years of experience helping people fit them together.

Please like, follow and share the Hub’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/disabilityhubmn/) to learn more about what they do, how they can help, and to access resources and information important to help people live their best life.

Learn more at https://disabilityhubmn.org/.

FREE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM

ALL kids ages 7–13 are welcomed to register!

Let’s face it. This is not an easy time for any of us. It can be even more challenging for kids. The American Diabetes Association® is excited to bring you ADA Project Power, a FREE virtual afterschool program which focuses on kids’ health and wellness. All content is presented in age-appropriate ways, and kids report the sessions are really fun!  Each participant will receive a FREE Activity Box delivered right to their door and includes

  • Project Power t-shirt
  • Activity journal
  • Tote bag
  • Water bottle
  • Portion plate
  • Chef hat
  • And much more!

Group meetings are twice weekly:

  • Oct. 13 – 31, 2020, Tuesdays (5 p.m. CST)  and Saturdays (12 p.m. CST)
  • Nov.  3 – 21, 2020, Tuesdays (5 p.m. CST) and Saturdays (12 p.m. CST)

Registration is open at www.diabetes.org/projectpower.  Deadline:  Oct. 16, 2020

 

Project Power FACEBOOK page. Check it out at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/591399908409490

Grants/Funding

COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care


About 7,300 providers may be eligible for COVID-19 Public Health Support Funds for Child Care from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). The non-competitive grants, totaling $53 million, will help family child care providers and child care centers cover the costs of safeguarding the health and safety of children and staff for three months.

Providers were sent an email from DHS with a link to an online application. Providers must submit their application by 5 p.m. on Oct. 14 to receive funding. Home child care providers could get up to $1,200 a month from October through December, while licensed centers may be eligible for up to $8,500 a month. Certified centers that care for school-age students could get up to $3,000 a month.

For technical assistance, contact Child Care Aware of Minnesota at 651-290-9704 or supportfunds@childcareawaremn.org. For child care resources related to COVID-19, including public health guidance, visit mn.gov/childcare.

Disability Services Provider Public Health Grants


A grant program was recently created to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to people with disabilities and staff who support them by maintaining or increasing access to individualized employment services and reducing the use of congregate and sheltered workshop service settings. Providers of specific services within certain waiver programs are eligible to receive grants. The maximum initial grant award to any applicant will be $200,000. For more information, including how to apply, view this webpage. The application period for this grant is open from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15, 2020.

MN Safe Routes to School
The Department of Transportation (DTS) is offering numerous funding opportunities for the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) work. See below the resources available and visit their websites for additional guidance on informational webinars for each opportunity.

  1. Boost Grants
  2. Planning Assistance funding
  3. Infrastructure Solicitation
  4. Community Charge Grants

Housing Assistance


$100 million in Community Reinvestment Fund (CRF) to prevent homelessness and maintain housing stability for renters and homeowners through the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program. Visit the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program website to learn more about eligibility requirements. To apply call 211, visit 211unitedway.org, or text “MNRENT” or “MNHOME” to 898-211.

Reminders

Discrimination helpline

Discrimination Helpline

Report Discrimination and Bias

COVID-19 does not discriminate based on race, where you come from, your immigration status, or anything else. 

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of discrimination or bias call Minnesota's Discrimination Helpline at 1-833-454-0148 or submit this online form. The helpline is staffed by investigators from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Translation/interpretation services are available.

If you are the victim of a crime, including a hate crime, or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.

Click here to get this information in multiple languages. 

Minnesota Helpline:

For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504
Mon.-Fri.: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you've been forwarded this email and would like to receive these updates directly, sign up here: Subscribe to Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates.