 | Photo by Evan Frost | MPR News
May 21, 2020
Bars, restaurants, personal care businesses and campgrounds get limited reopening on June 1 | | |
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Good morning. It's Thursday and here is a look at the slow reopening of Minnesota that's coming in 10 days.
Another nice day. Twin Cities will see decreasing clouds and highs in the mid-70s with 10 to 15 mph winds. Statewide, highs in the 70s and partly sunny with a chance of rain after midnight in western Minnesota. More on Updraft | Forecast
Minnesota leaders are taking a cautious approach to reopening gathering spaces. Bars and restaurants may once again serve customers starting June 1, but only at outdoor tables. In addition, those hard-hit businesses must keep 6 feet between tables, have no more than 50 people on the patio at a time and limit parties to four people (or a family of six). Reservations will be required, as will masks for restaurant workers.
Gov. Tim Walz says it'll be up to consumers to decide when it's safe to return to bars and restaurants. It'll also be customers' choice whether to wear masks to those businesses, as they're encouraged to do.
Personal care businesses like barbershops, salons and tattoo parlors will also be able to reopen. However, they must have social distancing, sanitizing and other coronavirus safety plans in place. They'll be limited to 25 percent capacity, too.
More recreation will be allowed, too. Youth sports will be able to resume some activity, but no team games yet. Campgrounds and charter boats will also reopen.
Indoor worship services will remain capped at 10 or fewer people. Steve Grove, the state’s employment and economic development commissioner, said religious services would be part of that next phase — including allowing outdoor services of up to 100. However, he said singing at those services would have to be limited. As far as COVID-19 goes, “singing is one of the worst things you can do."
However, Catholic bishops say they won't follow the governor's limits. In a letter, top bishops said parishes are not required to resume services and that and no Catholics are obliged to attend. If churches do have services, the bishops say they should limit attendance to a third of capacity. Walz said in a statement that he's meeting with the Archdiocese and Health Department this week.
For some of the business community, the plan doesn't go far enough. Hospitality Minnesota, a trade group representing many restaurants, resorts and campgrounds, called Walz’s plan “another disastrous setback. ... As these businesses stare in to the face financial collapse, [this] announcement further delays the incoming revenue these small businesses need to survive ." The state Chamber of commerce said Walz's approach "doesn’t sufficiently recognize the ability of businesses – many of them small businesses – to innovate and protect employees and customers."
Finally, here are the latest coronavirus statistics:
- 17,670 confirmed cases via 167,338 tests
- 777 deaths
- 2,308 cases requiring hospitalization
- 550 people remain hospitalized; 212 in intensive care
- 12,227 patients no longer needing isolation
There are some signs that restrictions have paid off in hindering the spread of COVID-19. For example, the time it takes for case counts to double is increasing and now sits at about 13 days. In addition, 70 percent of people with confirmed cases have recovered.
Still, more deaths are coming and the state has purchased space for a morgue. Documents from the Minnesota Department of Administration show the state paid about $5.5 million for a 71,000-square-foot property. Officials say the space should be able to hold up to 5,100 bodies, which could be needed if predictions of 1,000 deaths per week at the coronavirus peak hold up.
— Cody Nelson, MPR News | @codyleenelson |
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