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

March 31, 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 March 30, 2023

  • Total positive including reinfections: 1,786,694
  • Total deaths: 14,584
  • Total cases requiring hospitalization: 83,997
  • Total cases hospitalized in ICU: 14,179

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 March 30, 2023

  • People with at least one vaccine dose: 4,012,752
  • People with completed vaccine series: 3,788,001
  • People up to date with vaccine doses: 1,393,118

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

Governor's Office:

State of the State Announced

Save the date for the Governor’s fifth annual State of the State Address. Governor Walz will address the joint session of the Minnesota State Legislature on Wednesday, April 19, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The address will be delivered in the Minnesota State Capitol House Chamber. More information will be announced regarding viewing options.

 

CDC:

Updates to Booster Eligibility for Certain Children

Everyone age 6 months and older should get an updated (bivalent) booster when they are due!

More children now have the opportunity to receive enhanced protection against serious illness caused by COVID-19. This month the FDA authorized an updated (bivalent) Pfizer booster for children who:

  • Are ages 6 months to 4 years, and
  • Previously completed a 3-dose original (monovalent) Pfizer primary series, and
  • Completed their primary series at least two months ago.

Talk to your or your child’s health care provider about which COVID-19 vaccine doses you need to be up to date and visit About COVID-19 Vaccine for more detailed information on how you can boost your young child’s immunity to COVID-19!


Jobs

Rural Communications Specialist (Job ID: 64288)

This position exists to serve the health communications needs of Minnesotans in rural communities, through expertise and support for and among key communications partners, including local and tribal health departments.

  • Application Deadline: Friday, April 7, 2023

Workforce Pathways Planner (Job ID: 64238)

This position exists within the Center for Public Health Practice to build and implement a state workforce pathways plan. This plan will support early educational opportunities to learn about public health in settings like schools (K-12), will engage institutions of higher learning, trade schools and other post-secondary training programs to build a public health workforce that has the skills to support the 21st Century public health system. A public health workforce that reflects the diversity of the state is key to the success of the governmental public health system in Minnesota.

  • Application Deadline: Friday, April 14, 2023

Surveillance Unit Supervisor (Job ID: 63809)

As the Surveillance Supervisor, you will direct the work of the Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Surveillance Unit within the Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control (IDEPC) Division. This position will need to apply state-of-the-art technical expertise in epidemiologic methods and public health strategies required to develop, maintain and enhance statewide surveillance for pathogens often acquired in health care settings as well as direct efforts to contain transmission of these pathogens in partnership with health care partners, direct outbreak investigations related to health care settings, healthcare-associated pathogens, and/or medical products. In addition, this position will serve as a member of the Section management team.

  • Application Deadline: Monday, April 17, 2023

Search for Careers Within the State of Minnesota using the ID above or job title.


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:

 

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

  • Community Vaccination Event
    • Saturday, April 1, 2023
    • 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
    • Pfizer and Moderna vaccines available 
    • Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
    • 1301 North 10th Street, Minneapolis 

African Immigrants Community Services

  • Community Vaccination Event
    • Saturday, April 1, 2023
    • 2 - 6 p.m. 
    • Pfizer vaccines available 
    • 24 Somali Mall
    • 912 East 24th Street, Minneapolis 

Minnesota Africans United

  • Community Vaccination Event
    • Sunday, April 2, 2023
    • 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 
    • Pfizer vaccines available 
    • St. Alphonsus Catholic Church
    • 7025 Halifax Avenue North, Brooklyn Center 

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.


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