State of the State Address and New COVID-19 Testing Program

I wanted to inform you of two important updates from the Office of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan today. Please share within your networks.
Save the Date: Governor Walz to Deliver Fourth State of the State Address
Today, Governor Walz announced he will deliver his fourth State of the State Address to a joint session of the Minnesota State Legislature on Sunday, April 24, 2022, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The address will be delivered in the Minnesota State Capitol House Chamber. From building on Minnesota’s economic success to protecting Minnesotans’ health and safety, Governor Walz looks forward to sharing his plan to Move Minnesota Forward. We will share more details closer to the date.
New Online COVID-19 Testing Program
Governor Tim Walz announced a new program that will allow people in Minnesota to order free rapid COVID-19 tests online for delivery directly to their homes. Beginning Tuesday, March 29, 2022, people in Minnesota will be able to order two test kits (for a total of four tests) per household through an online ordering system. The link to order tests will soon be available on Minnesota’s COVID-19 response website. The online ordering system will be available in English and Español/Spanish, with Hmoob/Hmong and Soomaali/Somali translations to follow. Call the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) COVID-19 public hotline at 1-833-431-2053 for any questions.
Minnesota has secured 500,000 test kits (for a total of 1 million at-home tests) and the program will be available until all the test kits are ordered. Minnesota will use this program as a model for providing more access to COVID-19 rapid testing in the months ahead.
The State of Minnesota’s at-home PCR testing program through Vault Health will now end on March 31, 2022, due to the decrease in demand. People in Minnesota who have Vault PCR tests at home will be able to use them until they expire, or until December 31, 2022, whichever is first. Additionally, people in Minnesota can find up-to-date guidance on when to get tested here.
The state also continues to host community testing sites at 23 locations across Minnesota. To find a community testing site near you, visit this page.