Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this week's COVID-19 update email is being sent early.
The state has identified 887,368 cases of COVID-19 as of today (increase of 55,699 since our last newsletter on Nov. 10), with 845,128 of these patients no longer required to be isolated (increase of 48,007). 9,229 deaths have been reported (increase of 304). For more information on the current situation, visit the Minnesota Department of Health website.
At the bottom of this email, you will find Met Council workforce statistics related to COVID-19 leave that have been reported to the Employee Resource Center.
Do you have thoughts or concerns on the content or frequency of these COVID-19 update emails? We would love to hear your feedback through the online COVID-19 form, so we can make sure these emails are providing the most useful and timely information to staff.
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At a glance
What you need to know this week:
- Follow the CDC's guidelines to help stay safe during the holidays, and check out MDH's six simple tips for talking with friends and family about the COVID-19 vaccine.
- The Met Council established a new COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave Procedure, effective Nov. 13, to assist vaccinated employees if they cannot work for COVID-19-related reasons.
- Submit proof of vaccination in Employee Self Services (ESS) and have it verified by this Friday (Nov. 26) to receive a one-time payment of $150 in December. The Met Council is not currently collecting COVID-19 vaccine booster information.
- Booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine are now available to all Minnesotans age 18 and older.
- The CDC has approved a version of the Pfizer vaccine for children age 5 to 17.
- Staff must follow the COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Requirement Procedure if they will be onsite for any reason for more than 10 minutes.
- Employees who need to test each week must complete their test by 11:59 p.m. each Thursday. Staff may use Council-facilitated testing options, which update their employee record automatically, or choose another way, which must be entered manually in ESS.
- Teleworking staff must complete two required trainings in Learn before their teams implement their new work schedules. Teleworking staff should check the Telework Transition FAQ page on MetNet for information on technology, workspaces, planning, and more. Check out the optional training for teleworking employees on Dec. 2.
Read on for more about these updates.
Minnesota experiencing one of the nation's worst COVID-19 outbreaks
Despite having a relatively high vaccination rate, Minnesota's rate of new COVID-19 infections is one of the worst in the nation, bringing our hospitals closer to capacity limits. It's important to understand the seriousness of the situation as we head into winter, with more time spent indoors and many people looking to gather with others to celebrate holidays.
The Minnesota Reformer published a helpful article this week that helps tell the story of infection and hospitalization rates, why this surge is happening, and how being fully vaccinated is shown to lower your risk of infection, hospitalization, and death. Read the article on MinnesotaReformer.com.
Find testing and vaccine information on the state's website at MN.gov/COVID19. Learn more about the virus, how to protect yourself and others, quarantine guidelines, and more on the Minnesota Department of Health's website.
Stay safe during the holidays
As we come up on the end-of-year holidays, we find ourselves at a difficult point in the pandemic. Vaccination numbers continue to rise, and the recent authorization of vaccinations for kids ages 5 to 11 is encouraging. On the other hand, the highly contagious Delta variant is driving Minnesota’s COVID-19 case numbers to an alarmingly high level, our hospitals remain crowded, and there are still many of our fellow Minnesotans who do not have vaccine protection.
With that in mind, the state is encouraging all Minnesotans to think carefully about their holiday plans. It’s important to connect with family and friends, and no one wants to miss out on another holiday season. At the same time no one wants to be the one who passes a potentially deadly virus along to loved ones. We can reduce the risk and still enjoy the season by following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) guidance on holiday celebrations:
- Get vaccinated if you are eligible. It protects you and it protects those around you – especially those under age 5 who cannot get the vaccine.
- Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public indoor settings if you are not fully vaccinated – and even if you are fully vaccinated if the community is experiencing substantial or high levels of COVID-19 transmission. This is especially important if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.
- Remember that gathering outdoors is safer than indoors.
- Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
- If you are sick or have symptoms, do not host or attend a gathering.
- Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms or have a close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Use the state's website to find testing locations.
If you are considering traveling for a holiday or event, visit the CDC's travel webpage to help you decide what is best for you and your family.
- CDC still recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated and provides testing recommendations for those who are planning to travel.
- Masks are mandatory on public transportation, including buses and airplanes.
If you are gathering with a group of people from multiple households and potentially from different parts of the country, you should consider some additional precautions prior to gathering (e.g., lay low before you go, avoid crowded indoor spaces, get tested) to further reduce risk.
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Use these six tips to talk about the vaccine with loved ones
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has compiled helpful conversation strategies to help Minnesotans looking for ways to have productive – rather than divisive – discussions about COVID-19 vaccines with friends and family at holiday gatherings. MDH is publishing these tips in full-page advertisements on Thanksgiving Day in newspapers across the state, as well as on their website.
Check out MDH's new COVID-19 vaccine conversations webpage to find details on these six simple discussion tips for talking about the COVID-19 vaccine:
- Start from a place of care.
- Listen to concerns with empathy.
- Use open-ended questions to explore opinions.
- Ask permission to share information.
- Help loved ones find reasons to get vaccinated through shared values.
- Help make their vaccine happen.
Announced last week: New COVID-19 leave for vaccinated staff
The Met Council has established a new COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave Procedure to assist vaccinated employees if they cannot work for COVID-19-related reasons. The procedure is effective as of Nov. 13.
This paid administrative leave can be used by employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (as defined by the Met Council's Vaccine and Testing Requirement Procedure) and who either a) test positive for COVID-19 and cannot telework during their required isolation period or b) cannot telework and need to care for a child who must isolate due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, exposure per local public health guidelines, or school closure.
Eligible employees are entitled to a maximum of 56 hours (pro-rated for part-time).
Eligible employees who are requesting this leave should complete the COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave Request form (PDF) and submit a copy of the requested documentation (proof of diagnosis, etc.).
Review the procedure in Policy Central for full details on eligibility and using the leave.
The vast majority of the Met Council's COVID-19 cases are from unvaccinated staff. We are encouraging our employees to get vaccinated by offering this safety net of paid administrative leave, providing the $150 incentive when you submit proof of vaccination and have it verified by Nov. 26, and exempting fully vaccinated staff from the weekly testing requirement.
Read more about this new leave procedure in last week's COVID-19 update email.
Nov. 26 deadline: Provide proof of vaccination for $150
Each employee who has been fully vaccinated and submits their proof of vaccination through Employee Self Service (ESS) will receive $150. Proof of vaccination must be submitted and verified by Nov. 26, and the one-time, taxable payment will be included on the Dec. 10 paycheck.
For assistance submitting your proof of vaccination:
Help accessing ESS
Information about logging into ESS is available in the Quick Start Guide (PDF) and on the ESS login page under Helpful Links. For questions about ESS, email ESS.HRIS@metc.state.mn.us.
Do not submit booster information
The Met Council is not currently collecting COVID-19 vaccine booster information. Please do not attempt to upload booster information into ESS until further notice.
 Proof of vaccination form in Employee Self Service.
COVID-19 vaccine updates
Please note these reminders and updates to vaccine eligibility and access:
If you are not fully vaccinated, make your appointment now. Review the resources below in this email.
*Note: The Pfizer vaccine for children age 5-11 is a smaller dose than the one given to people 12 and older and is packaged differently. Pfizer vaccines for ages 12 and up cannot be used on younger children. Before your child’s appointment, confirm that your provider has the Pfizer vaccine for 5- to 11-year-old children. Not all providers have this in their supply.
 COVID-19 booster shots are available to all Minnesotans age 18 and older.
Vaccine and testing requirement reminders
In order to report to work onsite, Met Council employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or get weekly COVID-19 tests and test negative. This applies to anyone who will be onsite for any reason for more than 10 minutes.
Important reminders about the weekly testing requirement:
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Testing due each Thursday: Employees who need to test each week must complete their test by 11:59 p.m. each Thursday. Staff may use Council-facilitated testing options, which update their employee record automatically, or choose another way, which must be entered manually in ESS. Review the testing options in a past COVID-19 update email.
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Go/No-Go list sent each week: A list is sent to every manager by 8 a.m. each Friday letting them know if their employees are approved to go onsite – based on vaccination status or testing status. Make sure you are on the approved ("Go") list if you are planning to stop by a Met Council facility for more than 10 minutes. This reminder is especially important for any teleworkers who are making arrangements to return to the office or stop by the office to return equipment, clean out cubes, etc.
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Weekly testing exemption after testing positive: Employees who recover from COVID-19 may continue to test positive after serving their required quarantine period and after their symptoms have ended, so they may be wondering if they need to complete the weekly testing before returning to work. Per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, employees who are testing weekly will not need to complete a weekly test for a period of 90 days following the initial positive test date.
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New time code for onsite saliva tests: Employees should use the new code 51001 on their time card to track when they are completing their weekly COVID-19 test onsite with the Council-issued saliva tests. Employees are allowed up to 30 minutes each week to complete their test. Using the code will help Payroll better track this time so we can accurately get reimbursed for testing costs.
For more information on the vaccine and testing requirement:
Clarification of Well@Work services
Here are some reminders to help clear up any confusion about what testing or vaccination services are available at the Well@Work clinics:
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COVID-19 vaccine available twice a week: Schedule an appointment at either of the Met Council's Well@Work clinics. COVID-19 vaccines are available on Mondays and Thursdays, appointments are required, and masks are required at all times in the Well@Work clinics.
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Vaccine for ages 5+: You can now schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the Well@Work clinics for anyone age 5 or older.
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Boosters for ages 18+: Booster shots are now available to Minnesotans age 18 and older and can be scheduled at the Well@Work clinics. Read the article in last week's HR Connect for details on scheduling an appointment at the Well@Work clinic.
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Not available for weekly testing: Employees who are seeking COVID-19 tests to meet the weekly testing requirement should not attempt to schedule appointments at the Met Council's Well@Work clinics. These clinics are not supporting weekly testing.
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Asymptomatic ad hoc testing available for staff: Employees who are asymptomatic and are not testing to meet the new testing requirement may access tests through the clinics. COVID-19 tests available through the Well@Work clinics are reserved for employees only; dependents should visit other HealthPartners locations or community testing sites.
Tools to help you find vaccination opportunities
As of Sunday (Nov. 21), 3,616,166 Minnesotans had received at least one vaccine dose and 3,343,252 people had completed the vaccine series. For up-to-date information on vaccine availability and distribution, visit the Minnesota Department of Health vaccine dashboard.
Our progress so far – and our path forward – relies on Minnesotans getting the vaccine. The vaccines are free, safe, and effective, and all Minnesotans age 5 and over can get one right now. Many sites are now offering walk-in appointments.
Check out these tools to find vaccine appointments:
Important reminders related to the vaccine:
- Per guidance from the CDC, you do not need a booster to be considered fully vaccinated. You are still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your second dose in a two-shot series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.
- Even after you are fully vaccinated, you should continue to follow safety recommendations by public health officials and get tested if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
- The Met Council is not currently collecting COVID-19 vaccine booster information. Please do not attempt to upload booster information into ESS until further notice.
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Continue testing to stop the spread of COVID-19
Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should immediately contact their health care provider and seek testing, regardless of their vaccination status. How to get a COVID-19 test:
Announcements for teleworking employees
Optional training: Staying connected working with others virtually
Since many employees will continue to work remotely at least occasionally, LOD is hosting a course to enhance remote employees’ skills and confidence in getting and staying organized, productive, and connected. Employees can register for the virtual, instructor-led course in Learn by browsing the “LOD Classes Open for Registration” section or searching for the course by name in the search bar. A similar training was held for managers and supervisors on Nov. 12.
Still Remote: Staying Successful in a Remote Work Environment
Thursday, Dec. 2
9:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Webex
Required trainings for all teleworking staff
All teleworking staff are required to complete two trainings in Learn before their teams implement their new schedules: one on the updated Telework Procedure and one on working in the new hybrid workplace, where some staff will be onsite and some will be remote.
The trainings are not assigned in Learn, so staff must use the direct links provided here or locate the trainings in Learn by using the search bar (click the magnifying glass icon in the menu bar).
Technology purchases: P-Card or ITR?
Computer equipment is top of mind for many employees who are arranging their longer-term work setups, whether it is onsite, hybrid, or remote. To make things a little easier, check out the MetNet announcement for some important reminders, including: purchasing technology items with a P-Card vs. ITR, returning surplus equipment, how to get tech support, and equipment recommendations from Information Services.
Telework Agreement Form on MetNet
The Telework Agreement Form is required for all staff who are teleworking as part of the new hybrid work schedules. The form is now online and routed automatically through the approval process.
Telework Transition FAQs
Teleworkers can review the Telework Transition FAQ page on MetNet for details and tools to help in planning for and implementing their new schedules.
Check the MetNet pages, FAQs
For the most current information related to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the MetNet page and be sure to review the FAQs for staff and managers. The telework transition FAQ page has details for teleworking staff. They are updated as we have new information to communicate.
For Metro Transit work instructions and daily updates on new COVID-19 cases reported at each worksite, visit the Metro Transit MetNet page. For job aids and facilities updates for Environmental Services related to COVID-19, visit the Environmental Services page.
If you have questions, talk to your manager or supervisor or submit a question or concern in the online COVID-19 form.
Check out the latest issues of our internal newsletters:
For those who cannot easily access MetNet and/or would like a printable PDF of the FAQs, here are the most recent versions of these pages:
Met Council workforce statistics
The following statistics related to COVID-19 have been reported to the Employee Resource Center. The "active positive COVID-19" number is the number of employees who currently have a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The "cumulative" number marks the total number of employees who received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis since the pandemic began. The second table breaks down the positive cases by division for Community Development (CD), Environmental Services (ES), Metro Transit (MT), Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS), and Regional Administration (RA).
Employees with positive COVID-19 diagnosis:
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Councilwide |
| Active positive COVID-19 |
102 |
| Cumulative COVID-19 since onset |
742 |
Employees with positive COVID-19 diagnosis by division:
These division numbers are reported by Human Resources weekly. This table reflects changes since the last update email (Nov. 10).
|
Division
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New cases |
Total to date |
Returned to work |
Current active |
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CD
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0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| ES |
11 |
108 |
91 |
17 |
| MT |
38 |
615 |
532 |
83 |
| MTS |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| RA |
2 |
16 |
14 |
2
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| Total |
51 |
742 |
640 |
102
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