Walz seeks $40M for hospital staffing amid COVID-19 surge
January 14, 2022 7:45AM CST
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks from the Governor’s Reception room at the State Capitol, to discuss the latest steps in his response to COVID-19, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, Pool)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday that he wants to use $40 million in federal funding to support emergency staffing at hospitals that are straining to cope with a surge in COVID-19 cases that is expected to get worse.
Walz on Wednesday announced his request to fund the hiring of nurses to work 60 hours per week for 60 days at hospitals experiencing shortages due to the virus.
The request follows another $40 million Walz wants to put toward expanding testing. Both requests come out of $500 million in American Rescue Plan state funds for immediate COVID-19 response.
