Public Inquiry Hotline Ends Today

Due to the recent federal funding cuts, the public inquiry hotline that started in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic will end today, Friday, April 18.

The hotline was a vital service that offered a way for Minnesotans to connect with the Minnesota Department of Health to get information and answers about public health information and resources.

The hotline provided a way for people to receive health and safety information in other languages. Staff bilingual in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong provided this service; the Language Line was also used for other languages when needed.

From March 2020-March 2025, the public inquiry hotline handled 461,792 calls. Staff also provided information to Minnesotans via countless emails.

Contact information for various programs can be found on the About the Minnesota Department of Health page. The general information phone number for the agency is 651-201-5000 (toll-free 1-888-345-0823).