Essential workers mark 1 year since COVID-19 declared a national emergency Essential workers gathered on Saturday to reflect on one year since COVID-19 was declared a national emergency. (FOX 9) ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Saturday, March 13 marked a milestone: one year since the declaration of a national emergency because of COVID-19. "This year, the last year, was really long for me. [It] has been a nightmare," frontline worker Elia Starkweather said. Essential workers mark 1 year since COVID-19 declared a national emergency Saturday, March 13 marked a milestone: one year since the declaration of a national emergency because of COVID-19. Also this week, Gov. Tim Walz announced an expansion of COVID-19 vaccine availability in Minnesota, with the potential of all Minnesotans being eligible by early summer. Starkweather, a janitor in the Twin Cities, lost four of her colleagues to COVID-19.