Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday signed into law a proposal to send $20.9 million to the Minnesota Department of Health to help fund coronavirus containment and treatment efforts.
The move comes a day after state lawmakers fast-tracked the measure through the House and Senate in an effort to free up the money as quickly as possible. And it came just hours before the announcement that another Minnesotan had been tested positive for the illness.
Three Minnesotans, one in Ramsey County, one in Carver County and one in Anoka County, have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness stemming from the coronavirus.
There was already $4.6 million in the state’s public health emergency account, but that wasn’t designated specifically for combatting COVID-19. Department of Health officials said the new funding will be put toward paying staff, increasing testing for the illness and buying equipment to contain its spread.
“The speed with which the Legislature came together to work with us is unprecedented in my memory,” Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. “We now need to deliver.”
Legislative leaders on Tuesday said the funding was a first step in preparing the state for a potential COVID-19 pandemic and they began outlining contingency plans for the Legislature in the event they need to call a hiatus. House Speaker Melissa Hortman said the state was reviewing its procedures for meeting remotely and for allowing constituents into the Capitol in the event of a wider spread.
The Brooklyn Park Democrat said the state should consider state funding to cover sick time for Minnesotans who might have to self-quarantine, granting the governor additional authority to act in instances of a health emergency and set up a revolving loan fund for health groups dealing with COVID-19.
“There is more legislation to be considered related to this outbreak but hopefully you can count on this Legislature to continue to work in a bipartisan manner,” Hortman said.
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said he was open to taking up those ideas but didn’t commit to supporting them on Tuesday. And he urged Minnesotans to keep calm in the face of the potential spread of COVID-19.
“We are unified in Minnesota, the governor, the House, the Senate, Republicans and Democrats, we’ll do what we need to do but keep calm and carry on,” said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa.
