In 2020, Governor Tim Walz oversaw the setup of a hotline and email address in Minnesota to inform the state about fellow citizens who were suspected of not following the social distancing measures.

An official PDF of COVID-19 resources on the official Minnesota state government website featured this language detailing the use and purpose of the phone and email hotlines:

The executive order for the stay at home order is available below. This executive order granted himself the power to fine ($1,000) and jail (90 days) citizens for violating the stay-home order.

Because the phone number / hotline has been taken down, it is not possible for us to verify the recording of the line that has been featured online. However it is featured below for archival purposes.

The audio of Tim Walz on a recorded line saying the following is below:

We’re not going to take down a telephone number that allows people just to try and keep their neighbors safe.