Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Friday that a significant easing will take place starting next week COVID-19 restrictions. Bars and restaurants will be able to operate at 75% capacity and gyms at 50% capacity, and there will be no limit for salons and hairdressers.
Also from Monday March 15:
- Social gatherings can have a maximum of 50 people outside or 15 people inside.
- The pod size for youth sports can reach up to 50 for outdoor activities.
- Occupation limits for religious services are being removed, but social distance is required.
The number of seats at the bar can be expanded to groups of four and in addition to the larger capacity in gyms, outdoor classes can be expanded to 50 people.
Entertainment venues can increase the allowable occupancy to 50%, from 25%, both indoors and outdoors, with a limit of 250, according to the governor’s office.
Rules also change for large locations from April 1. Seated outdoor venues may add an additional 25% of their capacity above 500, with a limit of 10,000 people, while non-seated outdoor venues can add an additional 15% of their capacity. their capacity exceeds 500, with a limit of 10,000 people.
Indoor seated venues can add an additional 15% of their capacity above 500, with a limit of 3,000 people, and non-seated indoor venues can add an additional 10% of their capacity above 500, with a limit of 1,500 people.
The Minnesota Twins will play their season opener on April 8, and the new guidelines allow 10,000 fans to attend.
In a recent statement, the team says it is focused on strengthening health and safety measures in overhauling the new COVID-19 protocols, CBS Minnesota reports.
“Our sole focus remains on the health, safety and wellbeing of every person who enters Target Field; therefore, we are currently reviewing the new guidelines to ensure that our comprehensive reopening plan complies with all MDH and Minneapolis Health Department guidelines.” We will announce next steps in the very near future, including our full protocols and ticket plans, ”said team officials.
The state has made extraordinary strides on vaccinations in the past month, Walz said.
“Nearly 1.2 million minnesotans have the opportunity, and nearly 650,000 have been fully vaccinated. We exceeded our goal by weeks and have more than 70% of seniors vaccinated,” Walz said Thursday. “More Minnesota are now eligible for the vaccine and we are getting more than 40,000 injections into the arms every day.”
He said Minnesota will continue to take steps to protect the progress it has made, “but the data shows that we are beating COVID-19.”
“The sun is shining brighter,” he said in a statement Friday.
However, officials are urging caution regarding new COVID-19 variants. State health officials said Thursday that Minnesota discovered the first case of the B.1.351 variant first discovered in South Africa.
Jan Malcolm, Commissioner of the Department of Health, said, “It is important not to let our guard down before we are done with the job.”
“COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities, and we are seeing the new variants more often. We need to continue with the preventative measures such as masking, social distancing, staying home when they are sick and getting tested when necessary. safe and effective vaccines – will help us end this pandemic and achieve the better days ahead. ”