Grocery store workers in Minnesota have been declared emergency workers as the state responds to the coronavirus crisis.

The declaration means that grocery store employees will have access to free childcare.

Minnesota governor Tim Walz signed an executive order on Sunday stating that workers who were critical to the state’s response to coronavirus would get the benefits.

Sanitation workers alongside food distribution drivers will also get the childcare benefits for their school age children.

The Minnesota Grocers Association praised Mr Walz’s decision, thanking him for supporting the industry at a critical time.

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@GovTimWalz has classified “food distribution workers,” which is store clerks, stockers, etc, as Tier 2 emergency works. This allows frontline workers childcare as they serve and feed Minnesotans. Thank you @GovTimWalz for supporting our industry during this challenging time!”

Last week Mr Walz signed an executive order giving state workers paid sick leave if they were unable to work during the pandemic, according to US News.

According to the Covid Tracking Project at their last update, 82,571 had been tested so far in the US.

Their data shows that there have been 2,762 tests in Minnesota so far, with 77 positive and 2,865 negative.

Some 9,487 cases of the disease have been recorded so far in the US, and 157 deaths.