Walz says great strides made in vaccinating long-term care residents, workers

Governor Tim Walz visited Good Samaritan Society-Ambassador in New Hope on Friday to showcase an example of how COVID-19 vaccinations are helping people who work and live and long-term care facilities across the state.

Good Samaritan is COVID-free for the first time in a long time, according to Walz.

"This is what the future looks like and the hopefulness that is there," Walz said. "We have a long way to go, but what’s happening here at Good Samaritan is what’s happening all across the state and it shows just how well the vaccination program is working and where we are headed."

Kim Stoltzman works at Good Samaritan. She said staff members received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and are now getting ready for their second round with no side effects reported. She added that residents at the facility were also receiving their shots, which has been an emotional time for everyone at the facility.

"This is the light at the end of the tunnel and it has truly been something special for us," Stoltzman said. I want my residents and their loved ones to be able to safely hug each other without distance between them and that physical touch is just so important, and that’s what this vaccine represents."

KSTP’s latest COVID-19 coverage