Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates 12/22/23

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 12/22/2023 09:24 AM CST
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Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates

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Minnesota Department of Health

December 22, 2023

The Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Update is being sent to the following three MDH mailing lists to reduce duplication:

  • Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates
  • MN Immigrant and Refugee Health Announcements
  • The Center for Health Equity

Today's COVID-19 updates include:

Status of COVID-19 in Minnesota

Status of COVID-19 in Minnesota:

Updated December 21, 2023

  • Total positive including reinfections: 1,860,161
  • Total deaths: 15,421
  • Total cases requiring hospitalization: 91,773
  • Total cases hospitalized in ICU: 15,257

Numbers are cumulative since Jan. 20, 2020.

Information on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, deaths are updated weekly on Situation Update for COVID-19 with data as of 4 a.m. on the Tuesday prior. The page also includes a map of counties with confirmed cases, data by race/ethnicity, and more.

This total reflects only the results from laboratory testing. There are more cases in Minnesota, and the virus is circulating in communities. It is important for everyone to take steps to protect themselves and others through vaccination, testing, staying home when sick, and more.

Information about monitoring COVID-19 in wastewater can be found on the University of Minnesota's Wastewater SARS-CoV2 Surveillance Study website. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Data - As of December 21, 2023 (Updated monthly)

  • People up to date with vaccine doses: 982,585

Funding

Washington County Request for Proposals (RFP) for Community Engagement Agency Partnership

Washington County is seeking proposals for community agency partnerships and trusted messengers. The goal of this RFP is to identify and contract with one or more experienced organization(s) to promote community health and recovery after COVID-19. 

Minnesota Department of Health Office of African American Health RFP for Paths to Black Health (PBH)

The Office of African American Health released a new RFP for the Paths to Black Health (PBH) Grant Program (also known as the African American Health Special Emphasis Grant Program in state statute). The goal of the program is to invest in community solutions to enhance the vibrant and thriving African American community in Minnesota. This will help reduce the health disparities arising from cumulative and historical discrimination and disadvantages in multiple systems, as well as historical trauma.

Jobs

Opportunities at the Minnesota Department of Health

Search for careers within the State of Minnesota using the Job ID or job title.

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans: Search open positions

  • Deputy Commissioner (Job ID: 71970): The Deputy Commissioner of Minnesota Department of Health provides agency-wide executive leadership and policy direction around the management of the Department to advance the agency mission to protect, maintain and improve the health of all Minnesotans. This requires a mission-driven, experienced individual who will embrace the vision and guidance for the agency and administration-wide policy initiatives. 
    • Application Deadline: January 3, 2024
  • Chief of Staff (Job ID: 71986): The Chief of Staff supports the Commissioner of Health in the overall administrative responsibilities of the agency. This position will also assist the Commissioner in managing high-profile initiatives, strategic initiatives, performing special projects, and providing liaison to agency staff and external stakeholders. This position will serve as the chief policy advisor to the Commissioner on internal and external administrative management issues so that comprehensive strategic planning processes are implemented and appropriately monitored. 
    • Application Deadline: January 3, 2024
  • Health Equity Strategists Supervisor (Job ID: 72276): The Health Equity Strategists Supervisor will supervise and provide direction and leadership to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Health Equity Strategists, which are essential to the MDH’s Bureau of Health Equity’s initiative to advance racial and health equity. The person in this position will work closely with division leadership in the management of Health Equity Strategists and their work, provide focused content expertise, insight, and capacity in division-level equity strategic plan through an intersectional, disability justice, environmental justice, and racial justice lens to ensure robust population health initiatives with impactful community outcome.
    • Application Deadline: January 8, 2024

Upcoming Vaccination Events

COVID-19 Community Vaccines

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) works in partnership with communities to provide safe and free on-site COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be very good at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Make sure you and your family are up to date on any COVID-19 vaccine doses you are recommended to get to have the best protection against COVID-19. 

  • How to get a vaccine
    • Check for vaccine appointments using Vaccines.gov (you can search for appointments by vaccine type: Pfizer vaccine, Moderna vaccine, Novavax vaccine) 
    • Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.
    • To locate a community vaccination event near you, call the MDH COVID-19 public hotline at 1-833-431-2053 Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, Thursday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Vaccination Events:

 

Restoration for All, Inc.

  • Community COVID-19 Vaccination Event

Lighthouse Center for Vital Living

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Event

    • Saturday, December 23, 2023
    • 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    • Gloria Dei Church
    • 219 North 6th Ave. E., Duluth

Chinese Community Center 

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Event
    • Saturday, December 23, 2023
    • 12 - 5 p.m. 
    • Asia Mall
    • 12160 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie 

TAKS Ethiopian Orthodox Church

  • Community COVID-19 Vaccination Event

American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO)

 

To find a list of all upcoming COVID-19 Community Coordinator (CCC) vaccination clinics, please visit the CCC Vaccination Event Calendar.

Reminders

Discrimination helpline

Discrimination Helpline

Report Discrimination and Bias

COVID-19 does not discriminate based on race, where you come from, your immigration status, or anything else. 

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of discrimination or bias call Minnesota's Discrimination Helpline at 1-833-454-0148 or submit an online form on the Report Discrimination page. The helpline is staffed by investigators from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Translation/interpretation services are available.

If you are the victim of a crime, including a hate crime, or fear for your safety, call 911 immediately.

MDH COVID-19 Public Hotline:

For questions related to COVID-19, call 1-833-431-2053
Mon., Wed., & Fri.: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tues. & Thurs.: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To connect directly to a representative in American Sign Language, visit the Contact Us: COVID-19 Questions webpage. 

Peer Support Connection MN Warmline (PSC):

Contact the PSC Warmline, available from 5 p.m. - 9 a.m., at 1-844-739-6369.

Visit the Peer Support Connection MN Warmline page for more information.

MDH Contact Information:

For questions regarding the information in this bulletin or the Cultural, Faith and Disabilities Communities (CFD) branch, please email health.equity@state.mn.us.

If you've been forwarded this email and would like to receive these updates directly, sign up here: Subscribe to Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Updates.