On June 10, Minnesota will move into Phase 3 of our
Stay Safe Plan, which will enable more businesses to reopen and Minnesotans to return to more activities we enjoy. So many of our great and beloved Minnesota businesses have made huge sacrifices over the past few months to save lives and help us get here – yet through it all, we’ve see
businesses stepping up statewide, finding new and creative ways to support their communities since the pandemic begin.
Occupancy rates will be limited based on risk, with an overall occupancy maximum of 250 people.
Starting June 10 summary:
• Indoor social gatherings can take place with 10 people or less; outdoor social gatherings can take place with 25 people or less.
• Restaurants can begin offering indoor dining at no more than 50% capacity while maintaining social distancing and requiring reservations.
• Personal services, such as salons, tattoo parlors, and barbershops, may increase occupancy rates to 50% while requiring reservations.
• Places of worship can increase occupancy rates to 50%.
• Gyms, personal fitness and yoga studios, and martial arts can open at 25% capacity.
• Indoor entertainment venues, such as theaters and concert halls, can open at 25% capacity.
• Recreational indoor entertainment venues, such as bowling alleys, arcades, and museums can open at 25% capacity.
• Outdoor entertainment venues, such as sporting events, concerts, and theaters can open at 25% capacity.
Restaurants and bars can reopen for indoor service as long as they have adopted and implemented a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan and ensure a minimum of 6 feet of distance between tables. They must also:
• Limit indoor occupant capacity to no more than 50% up to 250 people
• Do not exceed 250 people in outdoor spaces
• Limit table service to 4 persons, or 6 if part of one family unit
• Require reservations
• Require workers to wear masks at all times and strongly encourage customers to wear masks when not eating or drinking
Gyms, studios and fitness centers can reopen as long as they have adopted and implemented a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan including the following requirements:
• Limit occupant capacity to no more than 25%; not to exceed 250 persons for indoor and outdoor settings each
• Strongly encourage that masks be worn by workers and users
• Establish regular disinfection routine and train staff
• Ensure ≥6 ft of distancing between equipment; greater distancing should be implemented for treadmills and other aerobic activity that encourages high exertion
• Group exercise classes should only be offered if distancing requirements can be maintained and with no person-to-person physical contact
Other seated and recreational entertainment venues, such as movie theaters, bowling alleys and museums can reopen as long as they have adopted and implemented a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan including the following requirements:
• Limit occupant capacity to no more than 25% not to exceed 250 persons
• Ensure social distancing and a minimum of 6 feet between persons
• Strongly encourage masks for workers and customers
Personal care services (such as hair salons, barbershops, tattoo parlors and similar establishments) can continue providing services and increase their capacity to 50%, as long as they:
• Have adopted and implemented a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
• Limit number of clients inside the business at any time to ensure 6 feet of distance between persons except when providing services
• See clients by appointment only; do not allow walk-ins
• Require workers and clients to wear masks at all times (for services where the client cannot wear a mask, the worker should add a face shield in addition to their mask).
Governor Walz’s
Executive Order 20-74 also requires all Critical Sector businesses to develop and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan by June 29, 2020. While these businesses have been required to abide by MDH, CDC and OSHA guidelines all along, it is important for their workers and customers to understand what protocols are being implemented to protect health and safety. All workers deserve a safe place to work – and leveling the playing field by requiring all employers to have a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan on the record just makes sense. The Department of Labor & Industry has provided template COVID-19 Preparedness Plans at http://dli.mn.gov/updates.
Executive Order 20-74 also continues to require workers who are able to work from home to continue doing so.
Business hasn't stopped, and your Chamber hasn't either. We're all in this together.......Stay healthy!
