Weekend Updates for Your Business
Mixed Setting Venue Webinar
DEED will be hosting a short webinar on Monday, March 22nd from 11:30-12:00pm with leaders from DEED, Dept. of Health, and Dept. of Labor and Industry to speak on the guidance for businesses and venues who have mixed settings including those with indoor and outdoor areas and/or seated and non-seated areas. Examples include zoos, convention centers, and other large venues. If you would like to know more about this, please join us. You are welcome to share this webinar with any other venue who may be looking for clarity on the topic.

Monday, March 22nd @ 11:30 am
$1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan for your business
Ethan Hellier, US Chamber Manager of Congressional & Public Affairs, joined us for a webinar outlining the business impacts of the $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan.

Click the image below to watch the recording
Click the link below for the powerpoint presentation.
Click the American Rescue Plan link to see the entire plan
ICYMI: Vaccine Toolkit & Guidance Updates
COVID-19 Vaccination Employer Toolkit
In response to last week's expanded eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to two new groups of Minnesotans, including people with specific underlying health conditions and targeted essential workers, DEED Commissioner Steve Grove introduced this week the Vaccination Employer Toolkit to help businesses navigate vaccinations. 

This is a one-stop-shop for you to get resources to share with your workers. Here's an overview of what you will find in the employer toolkit:

  1. How to Vaccinate Your Workforce - ensure all your employees are signed up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector to receive alerts about their eligibility and opportunities to get vaccinated at a location near them, including potential selection for shots at the state’s Community Vaccination Program site; your employees can also search for local vaccine providers in their area using the Vaccine Locator map, or you can host on-site vaccination
  2. Vaccine Information - a COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkit provides the most up-to-date, accurate information on these safe and highly effective vaccines to encourage your employees to get vaccinated
  3. CDC Essential Workers COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit - help your organization educate employees about COVID-19 vaccines, raise awareness about the benefits of vaccination, and address common questions and concerns
  4. Connect with MDH - request someone to come and speak on COVID-19 vaccines at your organization
  5. Legal Guidance - from the CDC, with additional information from the EEOC

If you have any questions, please email covid19.vaccination@state.mn.us. 
State Guideline Adjustments
Governor Walz announced guideline adjustments for all businesses and venues effective 12 p.m. on Monday, March 15 (please see overview below).

What is not changing:
  • Minnesotans should keep wearing masks.
  • Continue to socially distance.
  • All of the guidance today requires businesses and venues to maintain mask guidelines and 6 feet of distance between guests or groups to reduce the spread of the virus.

Full guidance can be found on the Stay Safe Minnesota website for the following:

Social settings: 
  • Indoor social gatherings are limited to 15 people, outdoor gatherings to 50 people max.
  • Social distancing between households must be maintained.

Critical businesses: Open (must have COVID-19 preparedness plan)
  • Beginning April 15, the requirement to work from home shifts to a strong recommendation. Employers are also strongly encouraged to implement reasonable accommodations for at-risk employees or employees with one or more members of their household who have underlying medical conditions and are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Non-critical businesses (non-customer facing): Open (must have COVID-19 preparedness plan)
  • Beginning April 15, the requirement to work from home shifts to a strong recommendation.
  • Employers are also strongly encouraged to implement reasonable accommodations for at-risk employees, or employees with one or more members of their household who have underlying medical conditions and are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Retail: Open (must have COVID-19 preparedness plan)

Restaurants and bars: 
  • Indoor dining: 75% capacity, 250 people max.
  • Outdoor dining: 75% capacity, 250 people max.
  • Parties of no more than six people must remain six feet from other parties; bar seating is open to parties of four; establishments must close for on-site dining between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. All patrons must be seated.
  • Beginning April 1, restaurants and bars with sufficient normal occupant capacity may exceed 250 people per applicable percentage limits and guidance.

Personal services (salons, tattoos, barbershops):
  • Open at 100% capacity, but 6 feet of distance must be maintained between parties.

Gyms, personal fitness and yoga studios, martial arts: 
  • Gym capacity is capped at 50%, maximum capacity remains at 250.
  • Machines and people should maintain 6 feet of distance.
  • Indoor classes are limited to 25 people, assuming distancing can be observed. Outdoor classes are limited to 50 people.
  • Masks required.
  • Beginning April 1, gyms, personal fitness and yoga studios, or martial arts spaces with sufficient normal occupant capacity may exceed 250 people per applicable percentage limits and guidance.

Indoor events and entertainment: Open at 50% capacity, no more than 250 people.
On April 1, 2021, venues with occupant capacity greater than 500 may increase patron count as follows:
  • For seated indoor venues: the venue may operate with an additional 15% of the occupant capacity above 500, with a maximum capacity not to exceed 3,000 for the entire venue (seated venues must have assigned seating, and patrons must remain seated).
  • For non-seated indoor venues: the venue may operate with an additional 10% of the capacity above 500, with a maximum capacity not to exceed 1,500 for the entire venue.
  • Masks required.
  • No food service between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Outdoor events and entertainment: Open at 50% capacity, no more than 250 people.
On April 1, 2021, venues with occupant capacity greater than 500 may increase patron count as follows:
  • For seated outdoor venues: the venue may operate with an additional 25% of the occupant capacity above 500, with a maximum capacity not to exceed 10,000 for the entire venue (seated venues must have assigned seating, and patrons must remain seated).
  • For non-seated outdoor venues: the venue may operate with an additional 15% of the capacity above 500, with a maximum capacity not to exceed 10,000 for the entire venue.
  • Social distancing is required.
  • No food or beverage service or consumption between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.
  • Masks required.

School buildings: All public and private schools will follow the Safe Learning Plan.

Child care: Open per CDC guidance

Youth Programming: Open per MDH guidance and CDC guidance

Organized sports (adult and youth):

Outdoor recreation, activities and facilities:
  • Open per DNR's Outdoor Recreation Guidelines
  • Up to 50 people may engage in outdoor activities together, with at least 6 feet of separation between households.
  • Guided and instructional activities may now include more than one guide or instructor.

Places of worship, religious services, weddings, and funerals: 
  • Open at 100% capacity. Masks required.
  • 6 feet of social distance must be maintained between households.
  • No food or drink except when essential to perform a ritual or service (e.g., Communion), and singing is permitted as long as congregants remain masked.

Reception spaces for celebrations or private parties:
  • These events are now only subject to the entertainment venue capacity limits for the setting where they are held. See entertainment guidance for details.
  • Table size is limited to 6 and guests must be seated while eating and drinking.
  • These events may not occur between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.
  • Beginning April 1, reception spaces for celebrations or private parties with sufficient normal occupant capacity may exceed 250 people per applicable percentage limits and guidance (https://staysafe.mn.gov).

Campgrounds and charter boats: Open with guidance.
Three households may gather outdoors, 15 people max.

Pools and swim parks:
  • Open at 50% capacity, max 250 people, and 6 feet of social distancing is required. See COVID-19 Public Pools under Executive Order 20-104.
  • Beginning April 1, pools and swim parks with sufficient normal occupant capacity may exceed 250 people per applicable percentage limits and guidance.
Chamber Mission: To Represent and Connect Businesses Serving Burnsville
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