Tag: Minnesota COVID restrictions

Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Winkler on Governor Walz’s timeline to end COVID-19 restrictions

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SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler released the following statements on Governor Walz’s timeline to end COVID-19 restrictions:

“Minnesotans have done a great job rolling up their sleeves and getting vaccinated, and that has gotten us close to the end of this pandemic,” said Speaker Hortman. “It’s my hope that Minnesotans continue getting vaccinated so that we can stay ahead of any variants, get our state fully opened, and get back to the things we have missed since COVID-19 started.”

“With new leadership in the White House and Minnesota’s robust public health infrastructure leading the nation in vaccine distribution, the end of this pandemic is near,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “From the start, Republican politicians told Americans COVID-19 was ‘just the flu’ and Donald Trump told us it would go away ‘like a miracle.’ Democrats are defeating COVID because we have taken a public health approach informed by scientists, not armchair epidemiologists.”

Walz to loosen restrictions on indoor dining, other venues

Restaurants, bars, other venues can reopen with limited seating capacity starting Monday. 

Gov. Tim Walz announced the limited reopening of bars, restaurants and other venues on Wednesday, which have been closed for in-person services since late November to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Also among the adjustments, youth and adult organized sports will be able to resume games on Jan. 14 with spectators, but must follow capacity limits for indoor or outdoor venues.

Starting Monday, bars and restaurants can reopen for in-person dining at 50% capacity and with a 10 p.m. curfew, according to a release from the governor’s office. Movie theaters, bowling alleys and museums can also reopen at 25% capacity. All venues must limit the total number of people inside to no more than 150, and masks are required. Continue reading.