State warns 14 Minnesota bars and restaurants: Stop violating COVID-19 requirements

State inspectors checked more than 900 bars and restaurants around the state in recent weeks and warned 14 that they were violating Gov. Tim Walz’s order to require workers to wear masks, keep capacity at half the maximum and space seating at least 6 feet apart in the long-running effort to combat the deadly coronavirus.

Investigators’ unannounced inspections also found many customers violating the order’s seating guidelines, the state Department Public Safety (DPS) said Monday in disclosing results of the inspections.

The order limits seating to four people who are not related or a maximum of six when they are all immediate family members. However, the DPS said, establishments reported many customers moving tables or seats together to allow for larger groups in one area. Continue reading.