COVID-19 Updates from the City of Saint Paul

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COVID-19 UPDATE

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

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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Stay Home Minnesota

STAY AT HOME EXECUTIVE ORDER

Yesterday, Governor Walz issued  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. What does this mean for residents? 

You can go to the grocery store, pharmacy, and medical appointments; get take out, delivery or drive through from restaurants; walk your dog, ride your bike, or be in nature; and pick up essentials for neighbors or loved ones. 

You should not go to work unless providing an essential service; socialize or gather in groups; or visit loved ones in the hospital or nursing homes, except under limited circumstances. 

Find a list of frequently asked questions about the Governor's order here.


CITY OF SAINT PAUL UPDATES

  • NOW AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES – Information about Mayor Carter's proposed $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. Information about the proposal is now available in HmongKarenOromo, Somali, and Spanish.
  • NEW - All Saint Paul Parks and Recreation events, rentals, programs, and activities are canceled through Sunday, May 10. For additional information, visit www.stpaul.gov/parks-covid19. 
  • NEW - Saint Paul is Supporting Restaurants with Temporary Curbside Pick-UpRestaurants will be able to post temporary signs for curbside pick-up areas without applying for and paying the usual permit and fees. Learn more here
  • NEW – Saint Paul’s City Hall Annex building will be closed to the general public by the end of day tomorrow, March 27. The building will remain open to city staff, Street Fleet, US Mail, anfor vendors who need to make deliveries or provide necessary building services. 

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

  • 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

  • NEWUniversity of Minnesota: Managing Fear and Anxiety for Healthcare Workers  
  • 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 - To support Saint Paul’s local restaurants operations under the current federal and state guideline, the City is allowing restaurants to use established parking lanes as temporary curbside pick-up zones. Restaurants will be able to post temporary signs for curbside pick-up areas without applying for and paying the usual permit and fees. Posted curbside pick-up signs must be able to be used by any restaurants in the area and does not reserve the parking lane space(s). Learn more here.
  • 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

  • NEW - Ramsey County and its partners will open Mary Hall - at the former Dorothy Day Center in downtown Saint Paul - as a respite facility for unsheltered single adults displaying symptoms of COVID-19 beginning Friday, March 27. The location will provide 24/7 symptom monitoring, meals, security and transportation to and from the site for individuals experiencing homelessness. Learn more here.
  • 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: Metro Transit has moved 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

  • NEW - Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding COVID-19. Learn more about Coronavirus scams from the Federal Trade Commission. Tips for avoiding these scams:
    • Hang up on robocalls.  
    • Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. 
    • Don’t click on or respond to emails asking for personal information in order to receive an economic stimulus check from the government. 
    • Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. 
    • Don’t click on or respond to emails that claim a positive COVID-19 test within your workplace. 
    • Don’t click on or respond to emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.  
  • 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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