Governor Tim Walz’s Administration on Wednesday announced a new partnership with Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Health to meet Minnesota’s COVID-19 testing goals. The agreement calls for 20,000 tests per day, as well as increased contact tracing, to identify emerging hotspots early.

Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) issued the following statement:

“This agreement is amazing news for Minnesotans, and I applaud the governor for fast-tracking it. We are all in agreement that widespread availability of testing is the key to getting through this pandemic. Just yesterday, the Senate heard Senate File 4476, my bill that would facilitate an increase in testing capabilities to meet the state’s testing goal. We cannot have an economic recovery, much less a fast one, without widespread testing. Robust testing will be one of the best ways to get Minnesotans back to work and school safely and quickly. This will bolster our economy and improve our state’s budget forecasts more than any other investment. If we ever hope to safely return to some semblance of normalcy, we have to know who is sick, who they may have come into contact with, and who has already been sick and recovered. We have not yet had that critical information, but this partnership will help us get there. 

“I also want to give a special thank you to the Mayo Clinic. As I have said before, Mayo will be the institution that leads us out of this pandemic, and they have stepped up time and time again. We are blessed to have such a fantastic resource right here in Rochester.”