Gov. Tim Walz Signs 3 COVID-19 Executive Orders Wednesday

TWIN CITIES, MN — Gov. Tim Walz Wednesday signed three additional executive orders related to the state’s coronavirus response effort, including one that extends his personal salary cut through June 2021.

In a news release, the governor's office announced the following new orders:

— As some pharmacies are facing shortages of pharmacists due to staff illness or inability to work for other reasons, Executive Order 20-107 authorizes out-of-state pharmacists to administer vaccines in Minnesota during the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency.

— On April 15, Governor Walz, members of his cabinet, and Chief of Staff voluntarily agreed to reduce their salaries through the end of the year by 10 percent. Executive Order 20-105 extends the salary reduction for the Governor and his Chief of Staff through June of 2021.

— Executive Order 20-106 rescinds Executive Order 20-34, which directed the Commissioner of Health to share limited information with the Department of Public Safety to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It also rescinds Executive Order 15-15, which established the Governor’s Committee to Advise the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. A wide array of other existing and newly created state councils, committees, and other entities have a similar scope and focus of work.

Executive Order 20-106 is effective fifteen days after publication in the State Register and filing with the Secretary of State. Executive Orders 20-105 and 20-107 are effective immediately.

COVID-19 cases in Minnesota continue to trend downward. On Wednesday, 1,513 new cases of COVID-19 were reported Wednesday, along with 75 deaths.