Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan Update: July 7, 2020

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July 7, 2020

Updates from the Governor

Today, Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced $56.6 million to help support Minnesota child care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Walz announced the funding this morning at the Learning Garden in St. Paul and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan highlighted the funding with a visit to a family child care provider in Rochester.

“Child care providers have stepped up to serve emergency workers and ensure families across Minnesota have a safe and reliable place to send their children,” said Governor Walz. “We will continue to support the critical work they do to educate our next generation, support families, and strengthen our economy.”

At the start of the pandemic, Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan asked child care providers to stay open to support the families of emergency workers. Providers responded to this call by diligently working to serve their communities despite great challenges, including significant costs due to decreasing group sizes and cleaning, staffing, and workflow changes needed to keep children healthy and safe. In Minnesota, child care access, especially for health care and other emergency workers, remains critical to the state’s public health response – an estimated 420,000 children are in households with one or two working parents in a tier one or two critical sector.

“Minnesota child care providers have gone above and beyond to support children and families during these unprecedented months,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “To meet the great need, and despite great challenges, providers have stayed open, including 90% of family providers. Our response to COVID-19 could not have happened without their support. They care for our littlest Minnesotans, and we should support them in return.”

Once funding is approved, DHS and the Children’s Cabinet will provide information about how childcare providers can apply for the grants. Families seeking care can call the Child Care Aware parent line at 1.888.291.9811 or visit mn.gov/childcare for a map of open providers.

Everyone can work to reduce the spread of COVID-19

  • Wear masks when in public. 10-50% of virus carriers are asymptomatic wearing masks helps control the virus and has been shown to lower COVID-19 spread.
  • Avoid enclosed spaces with groups of people, where the virus can linger in the air for long periods of time.
  • Get tested if you have cold or flu-like symptoms – Find testing locations.
  • Stay six feet away from others.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or sleeve, or a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands afterwards.
  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom or before eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose and mouth – with unwashed hands.
  • Up-to-date guidance is available from the Department of Health.

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