New bar and restaurant curfew, restrictions on social gatherings to go into place Friday

Friday, new restrictions will go into place for bars and restaurants and new limits will be placed on gatherings in Minnesota.

The new restrictions go into place as COVID-19 cases rapidly rise in Minnesota.

MDH: Record-breaking 7,228 new COVID-19 cases reported in Minnesota, surpassing 200K total cases

Since the pandemic started, the state has moved through different phases. Starting Friday, some restrictions are going back into place.

Walz announces new COVID-19 restrictions for gatherings, puts bar and restaurant curfew in place

Under the new restrictions, bars and restaurants are required to end dine-in services between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Bar and counter seating will be closed, with the exception of establishments that only offer those options.

It’s discouraging news for some restaurants and bars.

"I don’t know how we are going to be able to make it, honestly," restaurant owner Jamal Ansari said. "So we need the help eventually, if the state helps us, businesses down the road, to make up at least to pay the rent, the utilities."

Restaurants like the Mediterranean Cruise Cafe, which has been a family-owned business for 40 years, are facing many abrupt challenges due to the pandemic. The owner says the new curfew means holiday and New Years Eve business will likely be light.

As for social events, there is a 10-person limit for indoor and outdoor gatherings in Minnesota, with no more than three households participating.

Capacity limits for receptions related to weddings and funerals will be done in a phased approach, but will eventually go to a 25-person cap.

"I want to be very cognizant that this is painful; it’s painful to businesses; it’s certainly not that the hospitality industry hasn’t done everything possible to try to stop the spread of COVID but its still happening," Gov. Tim Walz said.

Earlier this week, Walz said, to help small businesses, $10 million will be made available for relief grants. State leaders said they expect that will help about 1,000 more businesses that have applied for assistance.

Additionally, Walz, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Commissioner Jan Malcolm, and MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann are expected to provide a COVID-19 update at 2 p.m. Friday. Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates.