Governor Walz Announces Arrival of First Emergency Medical Teams to Support Minnesota Hospitals

Statement

After taking urgent action to provide staffing assistance for short-staffed Minnesota hospitals, Governor Tim Walz today announced more than 100 nurses will start arriving at health care facilities around the state beginning immediately.

Governor Walz last week directed $40 million in American Rescue Plan funding to hire emergency staff to provide care at certain hospitals dealing with staff shortages during the current COVID-19 case surge.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) secured the staffing support and is directing nursing teams to hospitals identified by regional healthcare providers as most in need of emergency personnel. The nurses will work up to 60 hours per week for 60 days to provide care for patients.

The first round of nursing teams will arrive at 23 hospitals this week. Another wave of an additional 100 nurses will arrive in Minnesota in the days ahead to support even more healthcare facilities.

"Our health care workers have provided superb care to sick Minnesotans throughout this pandemic. But now, the Omicron variant is causing cases to surge, in some cases sidelining our medical personnel," said Governor Walz. "At this critical moment, when our doctors and nurses are asking for our help, we are providing it. More than 100 nurses will provide urgent care and relieve overworked staff at Minnesota hospitals right away, with more help on the way. As we confront the Omicron variant in the weeks ahead, the best way for Minnesotans to help our hospitals is to get vaccinated and get boosted for COVID-19, wear a mask in public, and get tested and stay home if you're sick."

"We are working across the state to ensure our hospitals have the staffing support they need to provide urgent care during this Omicron surge," said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. "As we deal with the difficult weeks ahead, we owe our doctors, nurses, and front-line heroes all the support they need, and every Minnesotan owes it to them to take simple steps to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19. Get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask, get tested, and stay home if you're sick."

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