Several metro county boards on Tuesday declared states of emergency to combat the coronavirus outbreak, as the Hennepin County Board approved $3 million to quarantine at-risk homeless and the Ramsey County Board granted the county manager wider latitude on spending.
As if to underscore the severity of the situation, three of Ramsey County's seven commissioners participated in the meeting by phone rather than in person, one because a family member was awaiting coronavirus test results. The four who attended sat with empty chairs between them.
"We are doing the very best we can, the absolute most in real time and around the clock to provide for all of our safety and well-being in this situation," said Ramsey County Board Chairwoman Toni Carter.
At Tuesday's Hennepin County Board meeting, where only 10 chairs were set up for the audience, commissioners ratified the state of emergency declared late Monday by Chairwoman Marion Greene. The county is shutting down 41 libraries, 18 human services hubs and 6 service centers until April 6.
The board also approved several measures to help ease the financial impact should any of the county's 9,000 employees become ill from the virus.
"Residents already count on the county as their services safety net," Greene said. "These are uncertain times. We all have to our part to weather the storm."
The Hennepin board's special $3 million appropriation will go toward finding housing and isolation spaces for quarantining the homeless or other vulnerable residents who either have the virus or are at high risk. The homeless population is of special concern since many likely won't be getting tested for the virus and nearly 150 who go to shelters daily are senior citizens.
The board also approved $2.5 million for virus-related expenses. The county has set up an emergency operations center, limited conference travel, restricted meeting sizes and encouraged employees to work from home.