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Good afternoon,
As you have likely heard, Governor Walz has decided that Minnesota’s students will continue distance learning through the remainder of this school year. He is also allowing non-critical businesses in industrial, manufacturing, and office settings to begin operating Monday .
According to the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), in order to reopen, businesses must do three things:
- Create and share with their employees a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that explains the actions they are taking to ensure social distancing and keep workers safe. The Department of Labor and Industry has created a template plan, which is optional for businesses to use as a starting point.
- Engage in health screening of employees each day at arrival
- Continue to use telework whenever possible
DEED will also be hosting two webinars on EO 20-40 with presenters who will talk through the process of returning workers in industrial and office-based business back to work. Join the conversation here at the following dates and times:
- Thursday, April 23 from 4 – 5:00 p.m.
- Friday, April 24 from 11:30am – 12:30 p.m.
DEED notes that it is also continuing to listen to feedback from businesses and workers about how to implement social distancing practices in their workplaces – if businesses in our community have ideas, they are encouraged to submit them here.
So what about businesses that sell goods and services to the public?
We are seeing that Iowa has more confirmed COVID-19 cases, but fewer deaths, than Minnesota. So what is that state doing differently? They are protecting the vulnerable, while having a modified stay at home/work approach. This is a plan that may be useful for Minnesota to look at as our state continues the process of reopening its economy.
One of the biggest things we need to do is open up our medical facilities for more procedures. Recall that during the Ebola outbreak, Mayo treated Ebola patients and was still open for other people that needed other health care treatments.
If Minnesota continues to delay other medical procedures and examinations, it is going to cost lives. The Mayo Clinic has a plan to isolate coronavirus patients, while still providing unrelated medical care. Minnesota needs to begin transitioning to providing broad medical care – and soon.
HELPFUL LINK FOR FARMERS
I’ve been hearing from a number of farmers in our area who are struggling with the problems associated with COVID-19 as well as other factors out of their control. I’d like to point them to an ag department website that answers questions, offers contacts, and addresses numerous ag-related topics. Visit https://www.mda.state.mn.us/covid-19-agriculture to learn more.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS PUSH FIX TO PREVENT SMALL BUSINESS TAX HIKE This week House Republicans called for immediate legislative action to prevent a tax increase for small businesses who receive funding from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Federal law allows PPP loans to be totally forgiven, which could trigger state level tax obligations at a time when businesses are struggling just to keep their doors open. Currently, forgiven PPP loans are exempted from federal taxes — the same is not true for state-level taxes.
According to the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Minnesota has been approved for more than 46,000 loans totaling more than $9 billion.
These are folks who are struggling to survive as it is. It’s my hope we will right this wrong the next time the Minnesota House holds a floor session.
Take care, and help protect your family, friends, and community. Don’t be a vector, follow the guidelines.
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