Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates

Stay Safe MN logo

Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates

View this as a webpage

Minnesota Department of Health

February 24, 2023

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

Status of COVID-19 in Minnesota:

Updated February 23, 2023

  • Total positive including reinfections: 1,770,117
  • Total deaths: 14,347
  • Total cases requiring hospitalization: 82,408
  • Total cases hospitalized in ICU: 13,953

Numbers are cumulative since Jan. 20, 2020.

The number of lab-confirmed positive tests among Minnesota residents will be updated weekly on Situation Update for COVID-19 with data as of 4 a.m. on the Tuesday prior. The page also includes a map of counties with confirmed cases, data by race/ethnicity, 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 take steps to protect themselves and others through vaccination, testing, staying home when sick, and more.

Updated February 23, 2023

  • People with at least one vaccine dose: 4,010,905
  • People with completed vaccine series: 3,785,970
  • People up to date with vaccine doses: 1,357,367

Vaccination Breakthrough Weekly Update:

Updated weekly, on Thursdays at 11 a.m.

All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Case and vaccine totals reflect only the results from laboratory testing and vaccinations that have been reported to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Data may not align exactly with the cases reported on other pages or dashboards due to differences in reporting lags and the frequency with which the data are updated.

What the vaccine breakthrough data do continue to show is vaccines provide protection against COVID-19, particularly against severe illness and hospitalization or death, and we are seeing this protection strengthened when people get a booster, especially for older adults. This means staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines, including a booster dose when eligible, is important.

For more information, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Weekly Update page.


New & Updated Materials

Federal Updates:

Information Regarding the Expiration of the Federal Public Health Emergency

As you have maybe heard, the federal government has announced that the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) will likely end on May 11, 2023. We know this may lead to questions about what this means and what might change. This fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides an overview of what is expected right now. More information will be shared as it is available. 

Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Transition Roadmap


Funding

Hillman Foundation Issues RFP for Emergent Innovation Program

The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation invites applications for the Hillman Emergent Innovation (HEI) program, which provides grants to accelerate the development of bold, nursing-driven interventions that will improve the health and health care of marginalized populations. The HEI program seeks proposals that: challenge conventional strategies for delivering and improving care to marginalized populations in the United States; demonstrate potential as a best-in-class intervention; narrow gaps in health equity; and show potential for scalability. Additional priority consideration will be given to proposals that: build trust and credibility in programs or systems of care; engagement of patients, families, caregivers, and/or community organizations; inter-professional or multidisciplinary collaboration; strong institutional and community partnerships; provision of care in non-hospital settings; and measurable goals and outcomes.


Upcoming Testing & Vaccination 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 Vaccines

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) works in partnership with communities to provide safe and free on-site COVID-19 vaccines.

Completing your primary vaccination series and getting a booster dose when due remains the most important way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines continue to be very good at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Make sure you and your family are up to date on any COVID-19 vaccine doses you are recommended to get to have the best protection against COVID-19. 

  • How to get a free vaccine
    • Use the state's Vaccine Locator Map to find a vaccine provider near you
    • Check for vaccine appointments using Vaccine.gov (you can search for appointments by vaccine type: Pfizer vaccine, Moderna vaccine, Johnson & Johnson vaccine) 
    • Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
    • Employers may also reach out with information for vaccination opportunities.

Vaccination Events:

 

Hennepin County

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Event
    • Saturday, February 25, 2023
    • 12 - 4 p.m.
    • Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available
    • University Inn
    • 925 Southeast 4th Street, Minneapolis 

AICS

Dorothy Day Center

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Event
    • Monday, February 27, 2023
    • 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
    • Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available 
    • St. Paul Opportunity Center - Dorothy Day Center 
    • 422 Dorothy Day Place, St. Paul 

Dale Street Place

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Event
    • Tuesday, February 28, 2023
    • 12 - 3 p.m.
    • Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available 
    • Dale Street Place
    • 313 Dale Street North, St. Paul 

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. 


MDH COVID-19 Public Hotline:

For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call 1-833-431-2053
Mon., Wed., & Fri.: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs.: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To connect directly to a representative in American Sign Language, follow this link


Peer Support Connection MN Warmline (PSC):

Contact the PSC Warmline, available from 5 p.m. - 9 a.m., at 1-844-739-6369.

Click here for more information.


MDH Contact Information:

For questions regarding the information in this bulletin or the Cultural, Faith and Disabilities Communities (CFD) branch, please email health.equity@state.mn.us.


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.