Governor Walz announced that the current Stay at Home order (EO 20-20/20-33) will be allowed to expire on May 18, and we'll begin Stay Safe Minnesota, urging Minnesotans to continue practicing COVID-19 prevention through personal hygiene and social distancing, and discouraging all nonessential travel.
While it comes as no surprise, but with real disappointment, restaurants, bars and places of public accommodation will remain closed until June 1. We are, however, glad that an opening date has been identified and with the promise that the reopening guidance from the State will be available by May 20.
The four new Executive Orders issued today are focused on the slow re-opening of the economy:
- EO 20-53: Extending the Peacetime Emergency Declaration: extending the Governor’s ability to issue Executive Orders through June 12.
- EO 20-54: Protecting Workers from Unsafe Working Conditions and Retaliation: ensuring that employees are protected from retaliation and allowed to ask for accommodations to protect their own health.
- EO 20-55: Protecting the Rights and Health of At-Risk Populations: urging at-risk populations to stay at home and/or access protections.
- EO 20-56: Safely Reopening Minnesota’s Economy and Ensuring Safe Non-Work Activities: lifting restrictions on nonessential businesses and some recreational activities; encourages work-at-home to continue; closure of restaurants, bars of public accommodation through 11:59 pm on Sunday, May 31. Of particular interest to our members:
- Provision 7
- a. Extension of temporary closure of bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation. The closure of bars, restaurants, and other public accommodations set forth in Executive Order 20-04, as amended by Executive Orders 20-08 and 20-18, is extended until May 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm. Barbershops and salons may continue to conduct retail product sales in accordance with the requirements for Non-Critical Businesses set forth below.
- b. Plan to reopen bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation. The Commissioners of Health, Employment and Economic Development, and Labor and Industry are directed to develop a phased plan to achieve the limited and safe reopening of bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation beginning on June 1, 2020. This plan will be ready for presentation to the public no later than May 20, 2020.
- Provision 8
- k. Outdoor recreational equipment rental outlets. Equipment may be rented but only if the equipment can be effectively sanitized between uses. Such outlets must implement clear check-in and check-out procedures that minimize contact between customers and workers. Any rentals must be conducted in accordance with the Outdoor Recreation Guidelines.
- l. Dispersed and remote camping sites for single household use. A dispersed campsite is a single campsite, not in a developed campground, used for overnight camping. A remote campsite is a designated backpack or watercraft campsite, not in a developed campground, used for overnight camping. Both private and public developed campgrounds remain closed to recreational camping.
- n. Small one-on-one or one-on-two person guided and instructional activities such as guided fishing, birding, or outdoor fitness training. Guided and instructional activities must be conducted in accordance with the Outdoor Recreation Guidelines.
Note on houseboats: While not explicitly called out, we have been informed by DEED and the DNR that houseboat operations will be allowed.
It is expected that DNR will issue additional guidance on outdoor recreation, and we have already petitioned them to expand campground operations for overnight RVs.
