COVID-19 Updates from the City of Saint Paul

City of St. Paul sent this bulletin at 04/01/2020 07:11 PM CDT

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COVID-19 UPDATE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

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.  

CITY OF SAINT PAUL UPDATES

  • NEW - Saint Paul Public Library will offer contactless pick-up starting tomorrow. Saint Paul Public Library is now offering a convenient, safe, and personalized way to access print books, magazines, movies, and more while the library is closed. Starting April 2, patrons can use contactless pick-up at five locations--George Latimer Central, Highland Park, Merriam Park, Rondo, and Sun Ray libraries.  

  • NEW - Don't have a library card? You can apply online for an e-card for access to the library's e-materials, including e-books, e-audiobooks, and digital magazines.

  • NEW - Mayor Carter announced the expansion of the Saint Paul Bridge Fund Proposal through philanthropic and corporate support that brings the proposed fund to $3.85 million for families and small businesses impacted by COVID-19.  The Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority passed the Bridge Fund this afternoon.
    • Philanthropic and corporate supporters include John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Ecolab Foundation, Securian Foundation, Minnesota United FC, Minnesota Wild, the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, and Xcel Energy. 
  • The Mississippi River water levels in Saint Paul are rising. To learn more about spring flooding in Saint Paul and stay updated with any potential street, parks or trail closures, visit stpaul.gov/flooding. 
Language Resources Team

LANGUAGE RESOURCE LINE

The City of Saint Paul has a new phone line and email address to answer questions about the City’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Interpreters are available to answer questions in Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Somali, and Spanish. Learn more at stpaul.gov/coronavirus.

Phone Number: 651-266-6000
Email: LanguageResources@ci.stpaul.mn.us

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 - Families can apply for cash emergency and food (SNAP) assistance at http://applymn.dhs.mn.gov. Before applying, you can see if you are eligible for ApplyMN programs at http://mn.bridgetobenefits.org.

  • Saint Paul Bridge Fund for Families. Following community feedback about eligibility for students enrolled in charter and private schools, all families with at least one child under 18 will be eligible to apply to the Saint Paul Bridge Fund for Families. Learn more here.

  • Fare Well Food Truck to Serve Hot Lunches During Spring Break. A group of local chefs from some of Saint Paul's most popular restaurants are coming together to serve hot lunches to Saint Paul Public Schools families during spring break. The Fare Well Food Truck will serve meals at the following schools this week, starting at 11 a.m. each day until all food has been served:

    • Central High School on Wednesday, April 1 
    • American Indian Magnet School on Thursday, April 2
    • Chelsea Heights Elementary School on Friday, April 3

    The food truck hopes to serve up to 1,000 meals each day.

    For more information about SPPS meal service and additional community food resources during spring break, visit spps.org/Page/38722.

  • 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

  • University 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 - The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has published a Guide for Minnesota Small Businesses Who Need Help. 
  • Paycheck Protection Program from the Small Business Administration (SBA) - The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses. Under this program: 
    • Eligible recipients may qualify for a loan up to $10 million determined by 8 weeks of prior average payroll plus an additional 25% of that amount. 
    • Loan payments will be deferred for six months. 
    • If you maintain your workforce, SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first 8 weeks of payroll and certain other expenses following loan origination. 
  • SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Loan Advance. In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. 
  • SBA Debt Relief. The SBA Debt Relief program will provide a reprieve to small businesses as they overcome the challenges created by this health crisis.Under this program: 
    • The SBA will also pay the principal and interest of new 7(a) loans issued prior to September 27, 2020. 
    • The SBA will pay the principal and interest of current 7(a) loans for a period of six months. 
  • 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 businesses: Small 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. 

HOUSING RESOURCES

Find more information about Ramsey County's housing services and support.

UPDATES FROM OUR PARTNERS

  • NEW - The City of Minneapolis has launched a COVID-19 newsletter. Sign up for updates from Minneapolis.
  • I-94 will close Friday, April 3 at 10 p.m. and reopen by Monday, April 6 at 5 a.m. Interstate 94 in Saint Paul will close next weekend between Highway 280 and Interstate 35E for work on Ramsey County’s Dale Street reconstruction project. Both eastbound and westbound I-94 will close at 10 p.m. on Friday, April 3, for removal of the northbound (east) side of the existing Dale Street bridge over I-94. 
  • 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

  • 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. 
  • 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.