Minnesotans to get two more weeks of stay-at-home, but with new flexibility

State seeks to thread needle between protecting public from COVID-19, and keeping businesses and economy going.

A statewide stay-at-home order will remain in place for at least another two weeks in Minnesota, as state health officials try to thread the needle between protecting the public from the COVID-19 pandemic and allowing businesses and the economy to resume.

Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday announced the extension until May 18 of the current stay-at-home order, which otherwise expired Monday, but with new flexibility allowing some retailers to reopen with curbside pickup or delivery for customers.

This move will put 30,000 Minnesotans in retail businesses back to work, and the governor said he was open to further efforts to dial back restrictions as long as it doesn’t result in flare-ups like the outbreak among JBS pork plant workers in Worthington that exploded in only one week. Continue reading.