COVID-19 Update 11/9/2020

Walz Announces Testing Expansion

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced today, November 9th, that a barrier-free COVID-19 saliva testing site is opening at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The Minneapolis location is the eighth saliva testing location to open in Minnesota.

In the next two weeks, 11 sites will be opened across Minnesota with partners at the Minnesota National Guard, and a saliva testing site will be opened at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, Walz said. As a reminder, you can locate a testing site near you at this website.

MDH officials and Gov. Walz say the increase in testing is needed to help people find out if they have COVID-19 and help the Minnesota Department of Health track, trace, and find asymptomatic people to prevent more spreading.

Member Testing Referral

Tom Archambault with BLVD Autoworks in St. Anthony shared that he recently had everyone at his shop test for COVID-19 using a company called GatherWell.  They will come to your business.  The cost is $65 per person (at the business) plus travel from Ham Lake. Test results take 15 minutes.

COVID-19: Workplace Challenges Webinar TODAY

Our friends at CHESS (Complete Health, Environmental & Safety Services) are hosting a free webinar on Monday, November 9 at 2 pm CST on COVID-19: Workplace Challenges. COVID-19 cases are on the rise as we head into holiday and flu season. No one wants to lose employees or shut down because of the virus. But as small businesses, you’re particularly vulnerable to COVID’s impacts. If one employee gets COVID, do you need to quarantine everyone, shutting down your shop? Does each sick employee need to file for worker’s comp?

CHESS has been fielding a lot of questions about the virus, so Janet and Carol will cover some of the basics, best practices, and complications.

New OSHA Alert

A new OSHA Alert offers tips for employers on how optimizing building ventilation can help reduce risk of workers being exposed to the coronavirus.

McConnell: COVID Stimulus Top Priority in Lame Duck

After largely remaining on the sidelines during recent COVID-19 stimulus negotiations, on November 5th, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that an economic stimulus bill will be the Senate’s top priority when it returns to Washington the week of November 9th. McConnell said he supports a deal and that aid for state and local governments – a major stumbling block in the negotiations to date – could be included.

Before the elections, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said there are “multiple items of critical importance” to be resolved if there is to be any COVID-19 stimulus deal in the lame duck session. Pelosi has been negotiating primarily with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on a new pandemic relief package and both parties had at times sounded optimistic about their progress. That positivity disappeared as Senate Republicans voiced no support for a large deal and President Trump vacillated on what he would back.

“We need another rescue package,” McConnell told reporters. “The Senate goes back into session next Monday. Hopefully the partisan passions that prevented us from doing another rescue package will subside with the election. And I think we need to do it and I think we need to do it before the end of the year.

Note: This content and analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Please consult your legal and financial advisors for detailed information before taking any action.