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Minnesota Department of Health

November 18, 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
• Upcoming Testing Events
• New & Updated Materials
• Other Updates
• Grants/Funding
• Reminders

Status of COVID-19 in Minnesota

Updated November 18, 2020

• Total positive: 242,043
• Patients who no longer need to be isolated: 193,869
• Total approximate number of completed tests: 3,543,671
• Deaths: 3,010
  o Deaths among cases that resided in long-term care or assisted living facilities: 2,066
• Total cases requiring hospitalization: 13,892
  o Total Hospitalized in ICU: 3,307

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.

• COVID-19 Community Testing (English)
• Kev Kuaj Kab Mob COVID-19 Hauv Zej Zog (Hmong)
• Ka-tijaabinta Jaaliyadda ee COVID-19 (Somali)
• Pruebas de COVID-19 en la Comunidad (Spanish)

Newly listed: For more information visit the MDH COVID-19 Testing Site webpage

New & Updated Materials

Videos

Contract Tracing- Swahili

Contact Tracing- Hmong

Contract Tracing- Chinese

Contract Tracing- Spanish

Contract Tracing- Nepali

Contract Tracing- Vietnamese

Contract Tracing- Russian

Documents

What to Do if You Have Had Close Contact With a Person With COVID-19

Other Updates

Governor’s Announcement

Today, November 18, at 6 p.m. (CST) the Governor plans to update the public on the state’s COVID-19 response. The announcement will be streamed live, in English, on the Governor’s YouTube page.

The office has worked with TPT NOW to ensure the announcement is simultaneously interpreted in Spanish, Hmong, and Somali. Live interpretations of the announcement will be streamed in Hmoob, in Soomaali, and in Español both here and on TPT NOW Channel 2.5. The event will also have ASL interpretation and English close captions available.

Health department to begin texting program to reach positive cases, close contacts

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is expanding its toolkit for case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) by notifying people via text that the health department will be calling.

The initiative aims to more effectively reach and inform those who test positive for COVID-19 and their close contacts about what they need to do to prevent further spread, and to better protect the state’s most vulnerable populations through improved outreach and communication. The texting began Monday, Nov. 16.

A text message will be sent to people identified as a case or the contact of a case to let them know that a case interviewer from state, local or tribal health departments will be calling to discuss their COVID-19 test results or potential exposure.

Case interviewers from MDH as well as local public health and tribal health not only gather valuable information from positive cases about the outbreak, but also provide connections to resources to help all Minnesotans reduce the risk of infection.

Combatting fears about calls from scammers pretending to be public health workers is another important part of the project. Getting a text message and knowing what number to expect a call from will help, but there are a few other things to know.

Case interviewers will talk to you about: 

• Symptoms you may be experiencing. 
• People you may have been in contact with. 
• How to avoid getting other people sick.

Case interviewers will never ask for a Social Security Number, bank account information, or credit card numbers. Anyone with questions can visit the MDH website for more information on Avoiding Phone Scams.

For more information on case investigation and contact tracing, see Tracing COVID-19.

Grants/Funding

COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program

The MN Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) continues to accept applications for the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program. The COVID-19 Housing Assistance Program provides housing assistance payments to help prevent eviction, prevent homelessness, and maintain housing stability for eligible renters and homeowners. Local administrators will review applications from individuals and families requesting assistance, verify eligibility, and process payments for eligible expenses on behalf of households. This is an incredible resource for those adversely affected by the pandemic, and the Governor continues to encourage Minnesotans to use the funds available to them to weather this storm.

To begin the process, people can:

• Call 211 (Toll Free: 1.800.543.7709; Local: 651.291.0211)
• Visit 211unitedway.org
• Text "MNRENT" or "MNHOME" to 898-211

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 September 30, 2020 to January 31, 2021. See the UPDATED COVID-19 Waiver to Extend Eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance for more information.

Reminders

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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