Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates

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Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates

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Minnesota Department of Health

November 12, 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 November 12, 2020

  • Total positive: 201,795
  • Patients who no longer need to be isolated: 159,467
  • Total approximate number of completed tests: 3,253,880
  • Deaths: 2,793
    o Deaths among cases that resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities: 1,921
  • Total cases requiring hospitalization: 12,443
    o Total hospitalized in ICU: 3,086

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: 

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
350 Harbor Dr (Paulucci Hall 2, 3, 4, 5)
Duluth, MN 55802

  • Parking is free for the first 30 minutes in the small lot on the back side of the DECC. Use entrance F.
  • Wednesday - Friday: 12 - 7 p.m.
    Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Schedule Appointment with Vault Health

Starlite Center
Former Office Max building next to the Panda Garden Buffet, just east of Jolly Lane
8085 Brooklyn Blvd
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Former Gander Mountain store
1940 Adams Street
Mankato, MN 56001

Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 2nd Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55403

  • Free parking will be available and marked in nearby surface lots and parking ramps.
  • Enter on the west side of the building off 1st Avenue, then continue to exhibit room E.
  • Monday - Friday: 12 - 7 p.m.
    Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Schedule Appointment with Vault Health

MSP Airport - opening Nov. 12
4300 Glumack Drive
St. Paul, MN 55111

  • Terminal 1, Level 2 of the Blue Ramp, in the former rental care service-counter area
  • Free parking will be available for all seeking a COVID-19 test:
    • Drive to Terminal 1 and into the entry plaza for the parking ramps. Signs will guide you from the inbound roadway to the clinic location itself.
    • Take a ticket or insert your credit card. Follow signage to Level 4 in the Blue Ramp.
    • Walk to the centrally located elevator lobby and go to Level 2.
    • Staff at the clinic will provide a parking validation ticket, good for up to two hours. Use that ticket when you exit. No charge would appear on your credit card if you used that option to enter the ramps.
    • Airport employees who don’t have parking available to them at Terminal 1 can use the free parking, but only for a COVID-19 test; not their normal work shift.
  • Daily: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
    Schedule Appointment with Vault Health

Former Thomas Edison Elementary School
1110 S. 14th Street
Moorhead, MN 56560

River's Edge Convention Center
10 Fourth Ave South
St. Cloud, MN 56301

  • Parking in the west surface lot next to the Convention Center is available to those being tested. Look for the COVID-19 testing parking signs.
  • Wednesday - Friday: 12 - 7 p.m.
    Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Schedule Appointment with Vault Health

Roy Wilkins Auditorium, next to Saint Paul RiverCentre
175 W Kellogg Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55102

  • COVID-19 Testing Parking & Entrance Map (PDF)
  • Free parking is available on the roof of the RiverCentre ramp. If that is full, metered parking is available in Rice Park.
  • Entrances:
    • Skyway from the RiverCentre Parking Ramp, follow signs. Testing location is about a 5-minute walk.
    • Doors by the main RiverCentre sign at 175 W Kellogg Blvd, follow signs. Testing location is about a 3-minute walk.
    • Rice Park entrance on Washington Street near Herb Brooks statue, follow signs. Testing location is about a 2-minute walk.
  • The testing location is ADA accessible. There are ramps and changes to the floor grade. People with mobility challenges may find the Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park locations easier to navigate.
  • Monday - Friday: 12 - 7 p.m.
    Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Schedule Appointment with Vault Health

Winona Mall
1213 Gilmore Ave
Winona, MN 55987

  • Testing is located in the back of the Winona Mall near the DMV (southwest corner), facing Highway 61. The entrance is on the outside of the mall.
  • Wednesday - Friday: 12 - 7 p.m.
    Saturday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Schedule Appointment with Vault Health

New & Updated Materials

Translated Videos

Lab Testing (Somali)

Contract Tracing (Chinese)

Contract Tracing (Spanish)

Contract tracing (Hmong)

When can I return to work after being sick with COVID-19? (Vietnamese)

When can I return to work if someone living with me is sick with COVID-19? (Vietnamese)

Someone living with me is sick (Karen)

After Being Sick (Karen)Someone living with me is sick (Oromo)

After Being Sick (Oromo)

New Guidance

Preventing Spread of COVID-19 in Multifamily and Multigenerational Households


Upcoming Webinars

Leading through Crisis—The Importance of Mindset, Self-Care, and Leader Resilience Webinar

During this uplifting session, Marissa Levine (alumni-VA) will draw on her 16 years of state government service and expertise in leadership to share the important role of mindset, self-care, and resilience with public health professionals leading during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nov. 18, 3-3:45 p.m. CST

Register for ASTHO webinar here.

Speaker: Marissa J. Levine, MD, MPH, Professor and Director, Center for Leadership in Public Health Practice, University of South Florida College of Public Health

This event is part of ASTHO's Insight & Inspiration: Monthly Conversations that Matter for Public Health Leaders in the Era of COVID-19 series.


Other Updates

Governor’s Announcement

Here are the findings related to the COVID-19 spread in MN:

WHO: This new surge of the virus is particularly impacting young adults. People between 18-35 make up a disproportionate share of new cases.

WHERE: Because of this, social settings which attract a younger crowd are the most significant sources of COVID-19 spread in the state. In fact, over 70% of COVID-19 outbreaks in our state from June to November have a direct link back to weddings, private social gatherings, and late nights at bars and restaurants.

WHEN: The data suggests these environments become riskier the later at night it gets.

Based on this data, it has been decided to move forward with these targeted restrictions:

  • There are tightened restrictions on private social gatherings.
  • Starting this Friday, there will be a 10-person limit for outdoor gatherings to match the existing cap on indoor gatherings, and all social gatherings are limited to members of only three households or less, including your own household
  • Receptions for weddings, funerals, and similar events will have capacity limits. This will be instituted through a phased approach, eventually leading to a 25-person cap.
  • There are some events already been planned, so it is the hope that the phased approach gives Minnesotans the time they need to adjust their events.
  • Additionally, there is a restriction that these events may not take place between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
  • Wedding and funeral ceremonies are subject to existing limitations and are not changed by this order. People are much more likely to be masked, socially distanced, and seated for a ceremony, while receptions often include less masking, less social distancing, and less seating.
  •  There are going to be some changes to the operations of bars and restaurants in Minnesota.
  • Effective this Friday, the maximum capacity will be capped at 150 people, and it may not exceed 50% of the establishment’s total capacity.
  • Bar counter service will be closed for seating and service in all establishments besides those that only have counter service. In counter-service only establishments, patrons can line up (with masks) and then return to their table.
  • All bars and restaurants must end dine-in service between 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

For more information about the new COVID-restrictions, review the corresponding Executive Order (20-96). These restrictions go into effect on Friday, Nov. 13 at 10 p.m.


Community Video Testimonials Project for the NRC-RIM Program

Program Background

The University of Minnesota will establish a National Resource Center (NRC) for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (RIM). The NRC is trying to collect, develop and disseminate best practices, health communications / health education, training, and other resources for state and local health departments, community-based organizations, and health systems.

Purpose of Videos

The NRC-RIM is invested in a community-focused approach where voices from the community will be featured throughout the project. We are looking to collect video “testimonials” from 1) members of RIM communities who have been directly impacted by COVID-19 and 2) health care providers, including providers who are RIM community members themselves, who cared for RIM community members while ill with COVID, or 3) people who can speak to the impact on their families/communities from personal experience. These videos will take a community-based perspective using a story-telling approach with multiple goals:

      Resonate with RIM communities by featuring fellow community members

      Highlight the impact of COVID-19 on RIM communities

      Identify stories of resilience among RIM communities

Video Format

Ideally, these videos will feature community members speaking in their preferred language with English subtitles (if English is not their preferred language). The footage will be used to create a series of five brief (1-2 minute) videos that will be made available on the NRC-RIM website. The intention is that the videos will be easily shareable, including via messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. The editing / branding of the videos will be guided by the UMN communications lead.

Potential Interviewees

      Health care providers, ideally from RIM communities and/or bilingual who cared or patients from RIM communities who were very ill or did not survive.

      Community members who were directly impacted by COVID-19, including:

      A community member who was very ill and recovered

      A community member whose close family member was very ill

        and recovered (e.g., spouse, parent, child, sibling)

      A community member whose close family member was sick and did not survive

Community Video Testimonials Project for the NRC-RIM Program

Grants/Funding

Refugee Cash Assistance Extension

Eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) has been extended to a maximum of 22 months for qualifying participants during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This update amends bulletin #20-06-01, by extending the end date of the waiver from Sept. 30, 2020 to Jan. 31, 2021. See the UPDATED COVID-19 Waiver to Extend Eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance for more information.


Disability Services Provider Public Health Grants

A grant program was recently created to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to people with disabilities, and the 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.

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.


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