![]() ![]() “The emergency is over and the mandates need to end. “My reaction today is simple: Not good enough and not soon enough,” Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, of East Gull Lake, said in a statement. Republican lawmakers, who have struggled unsuccessfully to roll back those powers since last summer, were quick to say his new steps don’t go far or fast enough. Walz indicated he has no plans to rescind the peacetime state of emergency he declared on March 13, 2020, which gave him the emergency powers he’s used to respond to the pandemic without requiring approval from the Legislature. For way too many it brought frightening new health problems and for far too many it meant the loss of of beloved family members, friends and coworkers.” ![]() “And for many it’s meant lost jobs and income, for so many it meant disrupted school years and family plans. Tim Walz issued sweeping executive orders to slow the spread of coronavirus in the state, from business and school closures to a statewide mask mandate. “It’s meant disruptions and loss for all of us,” Malcolm said. We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in your browser. We continue to recommend unvaccinated Minnesotans mask up to protect themselves and their neighbors. Following CDC guidance, today we announced we are ending the statewide mask mandate. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm used the announcement as chance to reflect on how Minnesota could not have predicted “all of the twists and turns that would come” back when the state confirmed its first case March 6, 2020. Governor Tim Walz on Twitter: 'Vaccines are effective. The governor said the Legislature should agree just to codify those protections, including a way to wind down the moratorium, which would allow him to cancel even more executive orders. Walz left the masking decision up to schools starting in January 2022. Other emergency measures Walz has imposed under his emergency powers will remain in place, including an eviction moratorium and a price gouging ban. Tim Walz ended the statewide mask mandate May 14, 2021. But Walz said a distance learning option will be preserved for families that choose it. State and local education officials will discuss over the summer what school will look like next fall, when younger age groups are expected to be vaccine-eligible. The governor said the state is on track to hit the 70% first-shot mark by the end of June, and that it will take only 473,000 doses to get there.īecause younger Minnesotans are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, the state’s hybrid model of in-person and distance learning for schools will continue until the end of the academic year. However, local governments and individual businesses can still require masks and maintain other restrictions beyond July 1 if they choose.Ībout 59% of Minnesota’s population 16 years and older has received at least one vaccine shot, and nearly 46% have completed the series, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The third step, once the state hits the 70% target but no later than July 1, lifts the state’s remaining mask requirements. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |