Walz announces adjustments to COVID-19 restrictions, citing vaccination progress and lower positivity rate
[KSTP-TV]
Citing vaccination progress, Gov. Tim Walz announced on Friday he is planning to make adjustments to certain COVID-19 restrictions.
Walz said that as state hospitalizations and the positivity rate both decline, he is signing Executive Order 21-07 to accomplish the following: Bumping restaurant, indoor entertainment, and gym and pool "not to exceed" capacity up to 250, leaving the maximum capacity for restaurants at 50 percent and the other sites at 25 percent. Additionally, at gyms and pools, the new executive order reduces the distancing requirement to six feet.
The new executive order would also now allow a 50-person "not to exceed" capacity at private events and celebrations, while leaving the maximum capacity at 25 percent. The order also would allow restaurants to stay open until 11 p.m.
The executive order is set to take effect Saturday at noon.
"Our small businesses have made enormous sacrifices for the health of their employees and communities," Walz said in a statement. "Today, we can make these cautious, common sense adjustments to support them because of the progress we have made controlling the spread of COVID-19 and getting the most at-risk Minnesotans vaccinated."
Meanwhile, Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove said, "While these measures are not a major dial turn, we know that they will make a difference to thousands of businesses and workers across the state."
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa) provided the following statement on Walz’s leadership decisions through the pandemic:
"I am glad affected businesses will have more freedom to operate safely. We know they are committed to operating safely, but they need time to assure they have staff, logistics, and supplies available to do so. These changes give restaurant owners less than 48 hours to plan for Valentine’s Day – their second busiest day of the year – at a time when they are struggling to survive after nearly a year of changing restrictions. Once again Governor Walz refused to work with businesses or the legislature to find a way forward. Continuing to go it alone with emergency powers and universal control over the dials is unwise. It leaves Minnesotans without clear expectations for future changes affecting their livelihoods and ability to support their families."
In response to the Governor’s announcement, Hospitality Minnesota, an association for lodging, restaurant, resort and campgrounds in Minnesota said,
"The Governor’s announcement today provides some welcome news of limited changes to current operational restrictions. The hospitality industry appreciates the ability to move forward and continues to be committed to operating safely to protect the public’s health. With virus-related numbers trending in the right direction, these modest adjustments need to serve as the starting point for a more comprehensive, methodical framework for moving our state’s devastated hospitality businesses back to full operation. The roadmap put forward earlier this week by Representative Baker is a reasonable, balanced concept that outlines a phased approach with clear guideposts for decision-making. We hope Governor Walz and his administration will work with Representative Baker and other legislative and hospitality industry leaders to formalize this plan so that Minnesota’s year-round and seasonal businesses can get ready for a healthy and prosperous spring and summer."