Big changes start on May 7 ahead of May 28 end date. No masks starting July 1.
Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday announced a three phased approach to rolling back what remains of Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions starting Friday, May 7.
Here are the highlights and timelines of the changes (you can watch the broadcast above):
May 7
- No capacity restrictions for outdoor dining for bars and restaurants. Indoor capacity of 75 percent for bars and restaurants still remains.
- Curfew is over. The governor has ended the 11 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants.
- Large outdoor venues which had been limited to 10,000 (such as Target Field), capacity restrictions are now removed.
- No masks required for outdoor venues if they are less than 500 people.
- Large indoor venues (like Xcel Center in St. Paul where the Minnesota Wild play) that had been limited to 3,000, those restrictions are now removed. However, for these large indoor venues, physical distancing is still required. Masks still required.
- Social gatherings: Limit increased to 50 from 15.
- Playing outdoor sports: No masking required. No more distancing rules.
May 28
When Minnesotans wake up the morning of May 28, capacity and social distancing restrictions at businesses, gyms, social gatherings and at bars and restaurants will be over.
However, masks are still required for indoor and outdoor events that have more than 500 people.
July 1
- All restrictions on gatherings will end including masking requirements. However, if 70 percent of Minnesotans 16 and older have at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine prior to July 1, then all restrictions will end sooner than July 1.
What is not changing
- Eviction moratorium: The governor said the eviction moratorium in place because of the pandemic will remain in place as will his emergency powers.
Additionally, the governor will still allow businesses and local government to still have their own requirements n masking or other coronavirus prevention measures.
About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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