S.T. Paul, Min. (Fox 9) – Minnesota Governor. Tim Wallace on Tuesday announced significant new COVID-19 bans on bars and restaurants, weddings and funerals and private gatherings at live addresses. Most of the restrictions will take effect on Friday at 10 p.m.
The new restrictions come as Minnesota is experiencing an outbreak of Covid-19 cases across the state, daily case counts since the epidemic began, hospitalized deaths and deaths at their highest stage. Restrictions are designed to target the spread of coronavirus in young adults, who make up the largest group of COVID-19 cases and often have mild symptoms as well.
“We need to move forward now. This has happened incredibly quickly,” Walz said.
According to the governor, more than 70% of coronavirus outbreaks in Minnesota from June to November are directly linked to weddings, private social gatherings and late nights in bars and restaurants. The new restrictions will not affect retailers, gyms and schools.
During a press conference, Dr. George Morris, with Centracare, said that while hospitals were previously facing supply shortages, they are now facing staff shortages due to illness or quarantine after being exposed to Covid-19. Children Minnesota CEO Dr. Mark Gorlik said there are currently 13 children hospitalized in COVID-19, five of whom are in the ICU.
Dr. Gorillak urged residents to get their flu shots. Government Wallace noted that four people are currently hospitalized across the state from the flu.
Bars and relaxers
Under the new restrictions, bars and restaurants will be required to terminate in-meal service at 10pm, including alcohol consumption, although takeout and delivery services will still be allowed after that time.
Indoor capacity will be kept at 150 people and cannot exceed 50% capacity. The previous limit was 250 people.
No bar will be allowed to sit or serve. Bars and rest restaurants renters who only have a counter service can still be a supporter with a mask and then return to their table.
Bar games that require standing like darts and pool will be allowed.
Bars erupted in bars and restrooms in October, according to figures provided by the state health department, with 57 such outbreaks in October after just 1 after the previous month.
Defending his decision, Wallace said Minnesota contact tracers were at least doubling the rate of infection in the bar after 9 p.m.
“It’s human behavior,” the governor said, to get people closer.
Weddings and Funerals
27 Nov. Marriages and funerals will be limited to 50 people starting at 27. This limit will finally be left to 25 people on December 11th.
Receptions and similar occasions will not be allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Private social collectors
The new restrictions also target private gatherings. Starting Friday, there will be a 10-person limit for indoor and outdoor gatherings and all social gatherings will be limited to people from three households or fewer households, including the host.
“You think looking at your sister-in-law or sister-in-law in an external patio setting, getting socially isolated, which poses very little risk … As Director Ehresman says, it reduces the risk but not the risk,” Government Walz said .
The governor also noted that eating and drinking increases the risk of transmission, as well as speaking and singing aloud.
“It looks like these things shouldn’t be dangerous or elevated, but that’s what we’re seeing.”
The governor also said Monday that a cell phone tracker designed to alert people when state officials are close to someone testing positive will roll. The person who tests positive will receive a warning, so that they can be notified to everyone – anonymously – who is within six feet of them. The person can choose to send a message, and recipients will not be able to see who has tested positive.
Wallace said he has been “very successful” in other countries that have used the technology, and said it would be “completely anonymous” to avoid privacy concerns.
Read on: Thanksgiving Guide for Minnesota
