Member Update June 8, 2020

What's Inside: Executive Order 20-74 Table Placement Weddings Meetings Bars Pools, Waterparks and Waterslides Business Preparedness Plans

Executive Order 20-74

Governor Walz issued Executive Order 20-74  on Friday, allowing restaurants and other places of public accommodation to open more fully. Comprehensive guidance can be found on the  Stay Safe MN web site . You’ll find links to guidance for specific settings: Restaurants  Materials for Partitions  Pools and Aquatic Centers   Recreational Entertainment Venues  Seated Entertainment  We’ve been getting questions on a number of provisions, so offer our interpretation here. If you have questions based on your business activities, please send them to  info@hospitalitymn.com . We’ll answer your question and post them in the Update if they are broadly relevant.

Table Placement

Is the fact that booths are back-to-back sufficient for social distancing or do we need to keep a booth open between seated booths? If we put a barrier between the booths, does that meet the standard? Our reading of the guidance  at this point  is no. There is a specific requirement for 6’ separation for tables. They have not yet taken the suggestion that equal protection may be granted by placing barriers.

Weddings

What is the guidance on weddings? What is the capacity limit? Can food be served buffet style? Can there be a band and dancing? Wedding ceremonies are governed by the guidance on places of worship, unless it is happening in a non-church setting, in which case it would need to follow the guidance for that type of venue. Same with receptions. If it’s in a restaurant, then it follows restaurant guidelines. If it is in an entertainment or meeting venue (i.e. hotel ballroom) then it needs to follow that guideline. A uniform maximum of 250 has been set for indoor and outdoor venues, including churches, restaurants, outdoor venues and indoor entertainment and meeting venues. Social distancing is the bedrock principle and needs to be met. While it isn’t specific to weddings, the section on “Additional protections and protocol for managing occupancy” in the Restaurant Guidance says this: Bands are allowed but must maintain social distancing.  Dancing is not permitted.

Meetings

Can meetings be resumed?  Based on Commissioner Grove’s presentation and answer to reporter questions, we interpret the guidance that formal meeting venues can be opened to 25% capacity, with a maximum of 250.

Bars

Can bars serve drinks at the bar, absent of serving food?   Bars can operate as before, continuing with the restrictions outlined in the guidance. You need to follow the rules for distancing and people must be seated (i.e. not standing at the bar). People seated at bar/counter must be only in groups of two with 6’ distancing.

Pools, Waterparks and Waterslides

Does the opening of pools include waterparks and slides?  Yes, page 3 of the guidance on pools discusses slides.

Business Preparedness Plans

Also announced on Friday, ALL businesses will now be required to have a completed  a preparedness plan  by June 29. Current practices do not to stop or pause until the plan is completed. State agencies will have additional guidance for preparing plans are expected no later than June 15. We’ll post those as they are made available.

Our Member Updates are generally sent to members only. In the interest of public health and the health of our industry, we encourage you to share this update widely. Additional resources can be found on our  website  and through our social media posts on   Facebook , LinkedIn  and  Twitter .

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