COVID-19 Updates from the City of Saint Paul

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COVID-19 UPDATE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

Like communities across our nation, we’ve been closely monitoring the unfolding of the situation around the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The City is working diligently in responding to the unique needs of our residents, business owners, and key partners and is coordinating closely with public health officials. Learn more about the City’s response at stpaul.gov/coronavirus.  

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CITY OF SAINT PAUL UPDATES

  • NEW – Mayor Carter proposes $3.25 million Saint Paul Bridge FundIn response to the economic impact to families and small business created by COVID-19, Mayor Carter has proposed $3.25 million in emergency relief to those in the community who need it most. The fund includes:
    • $1 million investment to provide families $2,000 of direct assistance for rent or mortgage payments. 
    • $2.25 million investment to provide  $7,500 grants for immediate business expenses 
    • The fund is supported by proposed Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority funds, and support from the Saint Paul Foundation and Ecolab Foundation.  
    • The proposal will go before the Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board for adoption at a special meeting on April 1. Learn more here. 
  • NEW – Governor Tim Walz today signed Executive Order 20-20 directing Minnesotans to stay at home and limit movements outside of their home beyond essential needs. This order takes effect at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 27 and ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10.  Learn more at http://mn.gov/stayhomemn. 
  • NEW – In alignment with the latest public health information, the following activities of the Saint Paul Fire Department have been canceled or postponed: 
    • All Saint Paul Fire Department participation in community engagement events have been canceled. 
    • Safe Haven smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installations and home safety surveys have been postponed. 
    • All child passenger safety seat inspections and trainings have been canceled. 
    • Walk-in blood pressure checks at fire stations are not available. 
    • All fire stations remain fully operational, but are closed to the public at this time. 
  • NEW – All Saint Paul Public Library and Parks and Recreation buildings — including Como Park Zoo and Conservatory — are closed to the public; modified services are being offered online to residents. 

PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION

Multilingual Health Information

Community Recommendations

The Minnesota Department of Health has community recommendations involving employers, assisted living facilities, schools and health care settings and large and small community events and gatherings. 

Family Assistance

  • NEW – The proposed Saint Paul Bridge Fund hopes to provide $2,000 of direct assistance to eligible families. Learn more here. 
  • Saint Paul Public Schools is providing food assistance using their bus routes: SPPS Bus Routes are now food drop-off locations
  • School and Child Care Questions? Call 651-297-1304. This is a state hotline open for school and child care questions for Minnesota residents that is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday of the week.

Mental Health Resources

  • Ramsey County residents who are experiencing stress and mental health symptoms as a result of COVID-19 are encouraged to call the county’s Crisis Team for support and resources. The county’s two crisis lines continue to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 
    • Children’s Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7878. 
    • Adult Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7900. 

SMALL BUSINESS & WORKFORCE

  • NEW Saint Paul Bridge Fund Eligibility for small businessesSmall business that have 20 or fewer employees, a gross revenue of $2 million or less, been in operation for the last six months in Saint Paul, and had their revenues significantly impacted by at least one of the Governor's COVID-19 executive orders in 2020 are eligible for the Saint Paul Bridge Fund. Grants for immediate assistance can support: 
    • Rent/mortgage payments 
    • Employee health benefits 
    • Leave payments and payroll 
    • Accounts payables Payments due to suppliers 
  • The City has an ongoing need for local vendors that can provide supplies for the response to COVID-19. Small, minority, and women-owned businesses are encouraged to register with the City as a CERT-certified business. The CERT programs works to increase local small business participation in local public contracting opportunities. Learn more at StPaul.gov or call 651-266-8966. 
  • The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is creating an emergency loan program to help Minnesota small business owners who need immediate assistance to meet their families’ basic needs during COVID-19 closures. Small Business Emergency Loan Program by making available $30 million from special revenue funds. These dollars will be used by DEED’s lender network to make loans of between $2,500 and $35,000 for qualifying small businesses. 
  • Ramsey County continues to be the best source of information for business assistance resources from Saint Paul economic development partners. Stay up to date at ramseycountymeansbusiness.com/covid-19. 

UPDATES FROM OUR PARTNERS

  • Saint Paul Public Schools: School meal pickup will be at six schools onlyMarch 25-27 from 10-11:30 a.m. (or until all food is handed out). The schools include: Battle Creek Middle School, Cherokee Heights Elementary, Como Park Senior High School, Harding High. For times and more details, visit spps.org. 
  • Metro Transit: Starting today, March 25, Metro Transit will be moving to a service schedule that represents about 60% of its regularly scheduled weekday operations. The agency also will continue its practice of suspending service during the overnight hours of 11 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. 

RESOURCES

  • FEMA Coronavirus Rumor Control: The purpose of this FEMA page is to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

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