City of Minneapolis COVID-19 Update, April 22, 2020

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April 22, 2020

The City of Minneapolis remains committed to delivering high quality services for residents and business in the face of the coronavirus crisis. For an overview of the City's response to COVID-19 and the latest impacts to City services, visit minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus. 

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Applications now open for Gap Funds for Housing for renters through Monday, April 27

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The City of Minneapolis is taking applications for the City’s $3 million in Gap Funds for Housing for renters through noon Monday, April 27.

Applications are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali and Oromo.

Apply online or call

Applicants can apply online or call the Tenant Resource Center at 612-302-3129. Callers will need to leave a voicemail message. An intake worker will return the voicemail message within three days.

The Gap Funds for Housing will establish an Emergency Housing Assistance program for citywide emergency rental assistance and open the successful, existing Stable Homes Stable Schools initiative to all Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) elementary schools.

The amount of assistance provided will depend on the individual needs of the household, taking into consideration other resources the household is eligible to receive. In most cases, the maximum amount of assistance will not exceed $1,500 per household, but providers will have the flexibility to provide up to $2,000 under extraordinary circumstances. Eligible expenses include rent payments, utility payments and/or other housing stability related costs.

Learn more about Minneapolis Gap Funds for Housing.

Applications now closed for City's no-interest small business loans 

The City has received more than 1,200 applications for the no-interest small business loans as part of the Gap Funding for Small Businesses. Since there are more applications than funds available, the City will use a random, anonymized lottery process to select which applicants will receive the loan. Given the volume of applications staff needs to review, the goal is to begin sending out notification as soon as possible in the next two weeks.

Donations for gap funding

The City is open to accepting donations from private individuals or entities for the Gap Funds for Housing and the forgivable 0% interest loans for Small Business Program. Donors could direct their donations to be expended in a manner consistent with the program guidelines but would not have any additional control over how the donation is allocated. Please contact the City if you are interested in donating.


Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, City of Minneapolis announce the 2020 Do-It-Yourself Earth Day Clean-Up

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The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the City of Minneapolis invite residents to participate in this year’s Do-It-Yourself Minneapolis Earth Day Clean-Up through the end of April.

The Minneapolis Earth Day Clean-Up has been the city’s largest community service project for many years. Since 2008, more than 20,000 residents have removed more than 160,000 pounds of garbage from Minneapolis parks, neighborhoods and watersheds. April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

To keep volunteers safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the 2020 cleanup is going forward as a DIY project. Everyone is encouraged to share photos of their cleanup: a great way to show what we can all accomplish #alonetogether.

Follow these steps to participate:

  1. Use a trash bag from home.
  2. Head to a nearby park or trail to pick up trash (while getting fresh air and exercise).
  3. Practice physical distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines.
  4. Share photos of your trash haul on MPRB’s @MPLSEarthDay Facebook page and get a prize.

Check here for other ways to honor Earth Day at home and in your community.


City launches dashboard tracking confirmed Minneapolis COVID-19 cases

The City of Minneapolis has a new online dashboard tracking the number of confirmed Minneapolis COVID-19 cases.

The dashboard shows the total number of laboratory confirmed Minneapolis COVID-19 cases, how many people needed hospitalization, how many have recovered and how many people have died. It also includes those figures for the entire state of Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Health is the source of the data. 

Note: the Minnesota Department of Health estimates that for every confirmed case in the state, there are 100 more cases.

Find the dashboard at minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus/dashboard


Enforcement of stay-at-home order in Minneapolis

Do not call 911 to report people who are not staying home during the stay-at-home order. Please call 311 if you have concerns about the voluntary compliance of the stay-at-home order involving a business, organization or a group gathering in a public space. We will route all calls to the appropriate City staff for potential action. 

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Public health information: Slow the spread of COVID-19

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Donate homemade face masks April 25

Minnesotans can deliver homemade masks to their local fire department from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Please put each mask in an individual bag. The masks will then be delivered to local congregate living facilities for their employees and residents to wear. Note: fire stations are not equipped to take any other donations at this time.

Remember to stay 6 feet away from others when dropping off your donation.

Face mask design patterns and instructions can be found online and below:

  • Build a mask that tightly encloses the area around the nose and mouth from the bridge of the nose down to the chin, and extending onto the cheek beyond the corners of the mouth, so no gaps occur when talking or moving. Use an accordion fold to mimic a hospital mask as much as possible.
  • Use mask material that is tightly woven but breathable. Double layer the fabric if possible. Masks must be made from washable material such as fabric. Choose a fabric that can handle high temperatures and bleach without shrinking or otherwise deforming.
  • The mask should tolerate moisture from breathing.
  • Suggested materials:
    • Outer layer: tea cloth.
    • Inner layer: microfleece to wick away moisture.
    • Use a fat woven shoelace-type material to bind the sides (such as quilt binding).
    • For straps, use elastic straps that loop behind the ears.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings to help protect others from COVID-19. Cloth face masks can help prevent the wearer from infecting others – especially in situations where they can spread the virus without having any symptoms.

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Video: City workers say thank you for staying home

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Watch this video showcasing City of Minneapolis workers thanking people for saying home and doing their part to protect the community during this challenging time. 


Muslim call to prayer will be broadcast in Cedar-Riverside neighborhood during Ramadan

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey along with leadership from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque are taking steps to help residents maintain a safe physical distance during Ramadan by broadcasting Adhan (“Call to Prayer”).

Beginning the first day of Ramadan on April 23 and lasting the duration of the month-long holy holiday, prayer from the mosque will be played over loudspeaker in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood and is expected to reach thousands of residents. The broadcast will allow residents to maintain safe physical distance for prayer.

The speaker will be located outside the mosque at South Fifth Street and Cedar Avenue and played at volumes consistent with City regulations, reaching thousands of residents in Cedar-Riverside. Keeping with the Muslim tradition, the call to prayer will be sounded five times per day, beginning at sunrise and ending shortly after sunset.

Read more


Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board updates

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New hygiene stations

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is opening four park restroom buildings Friday, April 24, at Bryn Mawr, Marshall Terrace, Mueller and Willard Parks to support the City’s and county’s work to provide hygiene services for people experiencing homelessness.

Each park location was selected to fill gaps in services already provided by local experts and agencies collectively working to serve people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The following restroom buildings will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily starting April 24:

  • Bryn Mawr Meadows Park, 601 Morgan Ave. S.
  • Marshall Terrace Park, 2740 Marshall St. NE
  • Mueller Park, 2509 Colfax Ave. S.
  • Willard Park, 1626 Queen Ave. N.

The City of Minneapolis has also worked with community partners to establish hygiene stations at four other locations throughout the city. Learn more

Southbound lane of East River Parkway closes to motor vehicles to allow more  space for pedestrians 

The southbound lane of East River Parkway as closed to motor vehicle traffic and is open to pedestrians from Fulton Street SE to Emerald Street SE. Bicyclists are asked to stay on bike paths.

The East River Parkway closure joins closures already in place for Bde Maka Ska Parkway, Cedar Lake Parkway, Lake Harriet Parkway, Lake of the Isles Parkway, Lake Nokomis Parkway, West River Parkway and Main Street SE. Maps of every closure in the Minneapolis park system are posted on the MPRB Road Closures page.


City hosting two more online open houses on draft Transportation Action Plan

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The City is hosting two more online open houses to get your input on the draft Transportation Action Plan before the comment period ends May 22.

The 10-year action plan will guide future planning, design and implementation of transportation projects for all people in all the ways they move around.

Join us to hear about the plan and interact with staff in real time. Learn more at go.minneapolismn.gov/get-involved.

Upcoming online open houses 


Resources for businesses

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Resources for workers

Minneapolis sick and safe time ordinance

Under the City’s sick and safe time ordinance, employers with six or more workers are required to provide time off at a minimum threshold of at least one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Employers with five or fewer workers must also provide sick time, but it may be unpaid. 

An employee's accrued sick and safe time hours are legally protected for their use due to COVID-19 symptoms, testing or infection. Protection extends to the employee and the employee's care of a covered family member. Learn more about how COVID-19 impacts sick and safe time protections

Additional resources: 


Housing resources


City's cultural radio programs now weekly

Tune into the City's cultural radio programs for COVID-19 updates. The City has weekly programs on KMOJ 89.9 FM (English); La Raza 95.7 FM (Spanish); KALY 101.7 FM (Somali); and WIXK AM 1590 (Hmong.) Radio shows schedule


Updates from City partners


Community resources and ways to help

  • Community support: Learn how to help and find other community resources.
  • Hennepin County helpline for people impacted by COVID-19: 612-348-3000. The helpline is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Get help with clothing, financial assistance, groceries, medical care and equipment, and medication. Help is provided in multiple languages.
  • The City is managing donations of items other than personal protective equipment (PPE), such as food, cleaning supplies, handmade masks, etc. Learn more about how to help.
  • The City of Minneapolis public WiFi from USI Wireless is temporarily free. You do not need a password, credit card or social security number to use the free WiFi. Look for the “City of Minneapolis Public WiFi” or “USI Wireless” networks. Learn more.

MeetMpls-socialdistancing

Check out Meet Minneapolis' guide on social distancing the Minneapolis way. It includes tips on staying active, supporting local businesses, finding art and more.


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For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact City Communications at communications@minneapolismn.gov.

People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700, Yog xav tau kev pab, hu 612-673-2800, Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.

minneapolismn.gov/coronavirus