In ASL with captions and voiceover
4/13/2020 12:06:27 PM
If you are DeafBlind or prefer to watch the video in a slow-paced, high contrast format, watch the DeafBlind friendly ASL version instead.
Hello Minnesotans, this is a recap of Friday, April 3rd, an update from Governor Tim Walz. Govenor Walz's original video, COVID-19, is available in spoken English with captions:
I recognize the huge impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had, on lives within our community, our state, the country and the entire world.
I want to emphasize the current best strategy for Minnesota is to delay the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. The peak is the day when most patients are seen by our health care systems to receive medical attention. We want to delay that peak so that we can prepare our resources and ensure we have sufficient capacity for ICU beds, ventilators, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). People of Minnesota can help by strictly adhering to social distancing.
As we prepare for this pandemic in Minnesota, we are looking at other states around the country. We are watching their patterns, collecting data and analyzing these statistics to better understand how we can develop a model fit for Minnesota. This model that is guiding us is now available to all of us to view on a website known as the Minnesota COVID-19 Dashboard. There you can find many resources and statistics related to the pandemic. For example – daily statistics on child care capacity, number recovered and sick people, confirmed deaths, and many other statistics related to the pandemic. Here is the website.
I want you to know that we recognize how this pandemic has profoundly impacted all our lives across the state, physically, emotionally and financially. There is a plan in place to protect every Minnesotan’s health and well-being. We are looking at different alternative sites to build temporary hospitals. We are currently searching for more, much needed, medical supplies like face masks, gloves, ventilators, and medication. We are looking for them here in Minnesota, we are looking for them across the U.S. and we are looking for them abroad.
At the same time, we have increased our efforts to expand testing to get a better picture of who has been exposed, and who was sick and has recovered. So far, the statistics show that Minnesota has done very well at following the order for social distancing. We still need to continue this practice in order for our health care systems to prepare for the peak period. The expected surge of patients needing hospitalization or medical attention.
Do not worry about a food shortage at this time, the food supply line is strong. There are discussions on how to maintain this supply line throughout the COVID-19 storm. Like modified farming operations and faster distribution.
We are also developing plans to help Minnesotans through their financial struggles. We want to financially secure every citizen and business during this time through support from the federal government, state legislature, and from the private sector. The number of Unemployment Insurance (UI) applications submitted since mid-March has surpassed previous records, but the state office is handling the application process by expanding their staff to quickly process each application. Let’s remember our neighbors and truly work as One Minnesota. We want no one to fall through the cracks in this system.
Finally, as you look amid all the news reports and stories during these challenging times, I hope you find this information I’m sharing with you today, will help to clarify our situation and avoid the spreading of misleading or false information. Our character is being defined during this crisis; what we say and do will be reflected upon us many years from now. So let us emerge as truly One Minnesota. I am proud and honored to serve you, as Governor of Minnesota and the amazing people.
The Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing thanks
James Paul Beldon III for ASL talent
Patty McCutcheon for English voiceover
Keystone Interpreting Solutions for film production
emergency management
