Walz dials back stay-at-home order; more businesses can open Monday

ST. PAUL — Minnesota's stay-at home-order will end Monday, but Gov. Tim Walz warned Minnesotans the state is not going back to "normal."

Walz addressed residents Wednesday night, saying the state is allowing more businesses to reopen —  with caveats —  and allowing social gatherings of 10 or fewer people, trusting people to stay safe.

"We're still in the heart of this pandemic," Walz said. "... We must keep this virus at a simmer, not a boil."

Bars, restaurants and hair salons will remain closed, but Walz said his cabinet is working on creating guidelines, targeting a June 1 reopening.

The governor will allow retail stores and other main street businesses to open Monday if they have a social distancing plan and operate at 50% occupancy.

“This is not the time for sudden movements,” Walz stated in an accompanying press release. “We are not flipping a switch and going back to normal all at once. We are slowly moving a dial and introducing more interaction between people over time. As we take cautious steps forward, it is more important than ever that we protect those most at risk, support workers, and all do our part to slow the spread of the virus.”

Some outdoor recreation opportunities have also reopened, including outdoor tournaments, competitions and practices in which social distancing criteria can still be met.

Walz also extended his peacetime emergency declaration Wednesday night through June 12.

The governor's new executive order is "Stay Safe MN," and

replaces the stay-at-home order, which expires at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Walz declared a peacetime emergency on March 13. He extended that emergency for 30 days on April 12. The peacetime emergency declaration has given Walz his emergency authority to issue the stay-at-home order, as well as to close schools, bars, restaurants and other businesses, and to take other steps to fight the pandemic without legislative approval.

Walz said he knows easing back into doing business and opening up more social interaction means more people will get sick.

"We've prepared for that," he said.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus continue to rise in Minnesota. The state reported 431 new cases Wednesday for a total of almost 13,000 statewide, and 24 additional deaths, for a total of 638.

The governor encouraged Minnesotans to continue many of the practices honed during the two months they've been staying in: work from home as possible, wear masks when you go out in public and stay six feet apart.

More protections

Walz also issued two additional executive orders, one to protect the rights and health of at-risk populations and another to protect workers from unsafe working conditions and retaliation. 

Those at-risk, including elderly adults, those living in congregate care settings and those with underlying medical conditions are "strongly urged to stay home," the order said. It lasts for the duration of the peacetime emergency.

The executive order aimed at protecting workers follows a back-and-forth between employees and the companies they work for. In Central Minnesota, this has particularly focused on meat processing facilities like Pilgrim's Pride in Cold Spring.

"Workers continue to raise concerns regarding the safety of their work environments," the order said. It bars employers from discriminating or retaliating against a worker who expresses health or safety concerns related to COVID-19.

Walz also stressed the state is still fighting the pandemic and said officials will be following a preliminary set of health indicators that could trigger a decision to re-impose restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.

Sarah Kocher is the business reporter for the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-255-8799 or skocher@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahAKocher.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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