COVID News - American Legion 2

As we begin reopening Businesses ... PLEASE REMEMBER

SOCIAL DISTANCE, WASH YOUR HANDS, WEAR A MASK & SANITIZE!!

In this time of extreme stress, PLEASE BE COURTEOUS  & PATIENT

Essential workers are only following policies established due to the Coronavirus.

A simple "Thank you", a kind word, or a smile could make their day!

COVID-19 Response and Preparation

  Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan are committed to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have taken decisive action to curb the spread of COVID-19, support our health care providers and facilities, and mitigate the impact on Minnesota families.

  For the latest press releases, statements, and other information please visit following links to stay up-to-date in this ever-evolving situation.

For audio recordings of all press conferences https://soundcloud.com/mngov

COVID-19 News Updates  https://mn.gov/governor/covid-19/news/

Frequently Asked Questions  https://mn.gov/governor/covid-19/

All Executive Orders issued by Governor Tim Walz.  https://mn.gov/governor/news/executiveorders.jsp

For the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak in Minnesota, please visit the Minnesota Department of Health’s website.

  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Minnesotans should take action to protect themselves and others from infection. This website provides the latest information on COVID-19 for the State of Minnesota. https://www.health.state.mn.us/

MAY 20, 2020

   ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has announced guidelines for the state's bars, restaurants and salons to reopen with restrictions on June 1.

Walz said outdoor dining can begin on June 1 with restaurants maintaining social distancing and seating 50 patrons or less at a time. Walz said restaurants and bars can continue to offer takeout, curbside and delivery services as well. Walz had issued the closure order for the businesses in March.

   “Our restaurants and bars are an integral part of the social fabric of Minnesota, and it has been heartbreaking to see this pandemic wreak havoc on our hospitality industry,” Walz said in a news release. “While the virus won’t yet allow for business as usual, let’s do what we do best after winter in Minnesota and head outside. Whether it’s a Jucy Lucy, a plate of tamales, or a walleye dinner, Minnesotans can support their local restaurant by enjoying a socially distanced meal outdoors.”

Walz also announced that salons and barbershops will be allowed to open on June 1 at 25 percent occupancy.

   “While all Minnesotans are eager to get a haircut, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to our salons and barbershops that put their businesses on hold in order to allow the state time to prepare for COVID-19,” Walz said. “With the addition of safety measures like personal protective equipment and a limited number of people inside, it’s safe to say we’re not going back to normal. But we can cautiously turn the dial back as Minnesotans continue to do their part to stay safe. Make a reservation, wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay home if you’re feeling sick.”

   According to the news release, in both industries customers will be either strongly recommended or required to wear masks, make reservations and adhere to social distancing requirements.

   “It’s important for all Minnesotans to remember that they have a big role to play in making this reopening process successful,” said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm in the news release. “By continuing to follow social distancing guidelines, wearing masks, washing hands, and staying home when sick, we can limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect our most vulnerable friends and family members.”

   This is phase two of the governor's Stay Safe, MN plan. This phase will also include the opening of campgrounds and more recreational activities, Walz said. More information on the Stay Safe plan can be found here.

   “Now is the time for innovative solutions as we navigate a new normal, support our favorite businesses and ensure the safety of workers and customers,” said Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove. “This phased approach to reopening our economy is rooted in safety for everyone, and will ensure we can continue to put more Minnesotans back to work and make data-driven decisions at every turn of the dial.”

May 13. 2020

More Minnesota businesses to open Monday. Here's what you need to know

Restaurants, bars, salons and gyms could come online June 1, but Minnesotans' behaviors could affect that date.

   ST. PAUL — Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday night announced more Minnesota businesses would be allowed to reopen Monday, May 18, and the state's stay-at-home order would lift.

   Under newer, more relaxed executive orders, Minnesotans will be able to shop in more stores, malls and other vendors open at half capacity and will be able to gather in groups of 10 or fewer for family gatherings, church ceremonies, or other purposes. But for at least two more weeks, dine-in restaurants, bars, salons, gyms and theaters would remain closed.

   Walz said the state would offer guidelines on May 20 for how those businesses would be able to come back online with a goal of getting them back up and running as early as June 1. He offered a warning that if Minnesotans failed to heed warnings about wearing masks in public, failing to social distance and keeping older adults and other vulnerable individuals in safe settings, additional restrictions could be put back in place to contain the spread of COVID-19.

   “It’s going to depend on how well Minnesotans are going to be able to do this," Walz told reporters. "Not wearing a mask is not a sign of rebellion, it's just hurting your neighbor."

   The governor acknowledged that the new guidelines were a bit of a gamble as the state continued to see reported cases and deaths associated with COVID-19 tick up in Minnesota. Federal guidance for reopening calls for a falling off in new cases, ample testing and tracing ability and substantial testing capacity for health care workers.

   In recent days, testing capacity has grown to the 5,000-a-day mark Walz set weeks ago to provide a broader picture of how widely spread the illness was in Minnesota and state health officials are growing their ranks of contact tracers to track the spread of the disease. They hope to convince lawmakers to approve funding for about 4,000 contact tracers, a nearly tenfold increase from where they stood at the beginning of this week.

   Over the last 50 days, the state stockpiled personal protective equipment, hospital and intensive care capacity as well as ventilators. Health care workers Wednesday still raised concerns about personal protective equipment not getting out to nurses and others on the front lines who were rationing.

While Minnesota's move to reopen was not made entirely under the federal guidelines, Walz said state officials in the last week felt comfortable about beginning to slowly remove restrictions.

   "It became apparent that you’re trying to weigh whether staying in and building up a little bit more is worth it compared to the damage it does economically, psychologically, and other health issues,” Walz told WCCO Radio on Thursday morning.

   Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said health officials would closely track new reported cases coming in and the rates at which cases doubled to determine whether restrictions on additional business sectors and social gatherings could be lifted.

   "We have to keep our eye on these things and not be afraid to take another look and to move the dial back down if we need to cool the temperature," Malcolm said.

   The latest set of executive orders extend Minnesota's peacetime emergency, allow the stay-at-home order to lapse Sunday, request that older Minnesotans and those with health vulnerabilities remain home if possible. Separate orders allow various businesses to reopen with new health and safety protocols in place and protections adjusted for workers.

   As the stay-at-home order lifts, Minnesotans will no longer be subject to citation for nonessential travel but the executive order encourages Minnesotans to stay close to home. Those who congregate in groups larger than 10 or violate business guidelines outlined in the executive order could face fines and jail time. Walz on Wednesday said he doesn't plan to ask law enforcement officials to penalize offenders but hopes they can educate them about the directives.

   Here's a look at what's on the way Monday and what could be coming next for Minnesota reopenings.

What could open as early as Monday?

   Retail stores, malls and other businesses that had been deemed nonessential under the stay-at-home order could reopen as early as Monday at 50% capacity as long as they comply with state health and labor guidance.

   Each has to have posted guidance about its efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect customers, where appropriate. And workers returning to work in these settings should be trained on new protocols.

   The new orders opened up single household overnight camping at dispersed, rather than developed campsites, outdoor tournaments, competitions, practices and sports that provide for social distancing and 10 or fewer participants and guided fishing, birding or other outdoor activities, including fitness courses, with no more than two participants per guide. Driving schools would also be covered under new guidance.

   Walz issued a separate order offering protection for workers who don't want to return to unsafe or unhealthy settings and barring employers from discriminating against employees who choose to wear masks or other personal protective equipment.

Which could be in the next category to open as early as June 1?

   Walz said businesses like bars, restaurants and salons where customers interact closely with one another for an extended period or with a stylist or business owner would be the next round of settings to get additional guidance about reopening. But those settings posed a different level of health concerns as they could more easily spread COVID-19, he said.

   Guidance for starting to reopen those settings was slated to come out May 20, Walz said.

What is farther down the line?

   The state will issue guidance next month about whether courses at the University of Minnesota will take place in-person in the fall, Walz told WCCO Radio Thursday. And as health officials try to get a sense of how the disease affects children and young people, they'll write guidelines for summer camps and children's activities, as well as in-person K-12 classes coming back online.

   "We are very much looking for more data on kids and their role in the transmission and also their susceptibility to the disease," Malcolm said.

   Meals and child care services through Minnesota schools would likely continue, Walz said. And Walz on Thursday issued an executive order allowing schools to decide on their own whether summer courses would be delivered through distance learning, in-person instruction or both.

APRIL 30, 2020 — 3:03PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has announced he is extending the state's stay-at-home order until May 18. The order was previously set to end on Monday.

  At a news conference on Thursday, Walz said Minnesota has saved lives and bought critical time during the stay-at-home order and increased testing capacity.

  “From building out critical hospital capacity to launching a landmark testing strategy, Minnesota has made meaningful progress in preparing for the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Walz said in a news release. “Minnesotans have made this possible by staying home and holding down the rate of infection. But now is not the time for sudden movements. There’s more work to be done, and we need to keep this virus at a simmer, not a boil. Our action today prioritizes the safety of Minnesotans while taking cautious, strategic steps toward getting people safely back to work.”

  Walz also said he strongly encourages all Minnesotans to wear a mask at all times when leaving their homes to any place where social distancing is difficult.

  Also on Thursday, Walz said beginning May 4, retail businesses and other non-critical businesses can start offering curbside pick-up.

  In the news release, Walz said businesses must:

·         Develop and publicly post a plan for how to open safely.

·         Use online payment whenever possible.

·         Employees and customers should wear masks and protective equipment.

·         In curbside pick-up scenarios, social distancing guidelines apply. If possible, customers should not leave their vehicle.

·         In delivery scenarios, items should be deposited outside a customer’s residence.

  Walz said Minnesotans should continue to telework when possible, wear face masks in public and screen for symptoms regularly.

  “Listening to Minnesota business and labor leaders on how to ensure the safety of workers and customers is at the core of our decision-making process,” said Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove in the news release. “Today’s announcement is the right next step to help more Minnesotans safely return to work and to reopen more businesses to get our economy ramping up again.”

April 23 at 2:21 pm

  ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced that Minnesota schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year.

  On March 15, Walz ordered all Minnesota K-12 public schools to close from March 18 through March 27. Since the closure, Minnesota schools have implemented "distance learning."

  “As a former teacher, this is a heartbreaking decision,” Gov. Walz said in a news release. “I am sorry for all of our students who will miss out on graduations, tournaments, and end of year celebrations. While I recognize distance learning is a challenge for many families, it is critical to social distancing in Minnesota and supports the health of Minnesota’s families. We will continue looking for ways to improve the current system and better support our children.”

  Walz also laid out a plan to allow certain non-critical businesses to open.

  "Governor Walz today announced his decision to allow certain non-critical businesses to safely return to work. Developed in partnerships with hundreds of businesses, labor and worker organizations, and public health experts, this action will allow 80,000-100,000 Minnesotans to return to work in industrial, manufacturing, and office settings on Monday, April 27," the release said.

  “This is a limited first step in the process of safely reopening some businesses and returning Minnesotans to work,” said Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove in the news release. “We will continue to listen to and seek input from business and community leaders and work with public health experts on creative solutions to put more people back to work as safely and quickly as possible.”

  According to the news release, before loosening restrictions for a given setting, businesses must:

·         Create, share, and implement a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that sets out the actions they are taking to ensure social distancing, worker hygiene, and facility cleaning and disinfection necessary to keep workers safe

·         Engage in health screening of employees and ensure that sick employees stay home

·         Continue to work from home whenever possible

April 17, 2020

  [ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today issued Executive Order 20-38, which expands allowable outdoor recreational activities. The changes will allow Minnesotans to continue to enjoy the outdoors close to home while following social distancing guidelines.

  Executive Order 20-38 allows Minnesotans to engage in a range of activities, including golfing, boating, fishing, hunting, and hiking, as long as they follow new outdoor recreation guidelines. These guidelines include maintaining 6-foot social distancing, avoiding crowded areas, and staying close to home.

  “It’s important for us to stay active and enjoy the outdoors while preventing the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Walz. “This measure will allow Minnesotans to take advantage of more opportunities to get outside, while still doing their part to keep their neighbors healthy.”

  Under Executive Order 20-38, facilities that may reopen or remain open include:

Bait shops for live bait

. Outdoor shooting ranges and game farms

. Public and private parks and trails

. Golf courses and driving ranges

. Boating and off-highway vehicle services, including:

  . Marina services

  . Dock installation and other lake services

  . Boat and off-highway vehicle sales and repair, by appointment only.

  Campgrounds and dispersed camping, outdoor recreational equipment retail stores, recreational equipment rental, charter boats, launches, and guided fishing remain closed.

  Minnesotans should continue to take part in outdoor activities close to their primary residence.

  Staying home helps protect Minnesotans from spreading COVID-19 and limits pressure on rural medical facilities and essential supplies.

  These new provisions will go into effect on Saturday, April 18 at 5:00 am, and will have the full force and effect of law upon approval by the Executive Council.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has announced the extension of the stay-at-home order until May 4.

 The initial stay-at-home order was scheduled to last through April 10.

 “What we are doing is working, Minnesota,” Walz said in a news release. “We are taking this seriously, and we are staying home. While Minnesota is showing lower rates of infections than our peers across the country, now is not the time to let up or allow that trajectory to change. Updated federal guidance and our own public health experts are showing that if we keep staying home, we will save lives – which is why I made the data-driven decision to extend the Stay Home Order until May 4.”

 Walz said this also extends the closure of bars, restaurants and other public accommodations through 11:59 p.m. on May 3.

 "The Governor’s order to stay home is forecasted to significantly slow the spread of COVID-19, pushing out the peak of the disease and allowing the state to continue key preparations for the pandemic. These preparations include building new hospital capacity and buying ventilators and masks, planning for how to protect those most at risk, expanding testing, and freeing up time for health care giants like the Mayo Clinic to develop critical treatments for the virus," the news release said.

 According to a news release from Gov. Walz, under the extended stay-at-home order, Minnesotans may leave their residences only to perform the following activities, and while practicing social distancing:

·         Relocation to ensure safety, such as relocating to a different location if your home is unsafe due to domestic violence, sanitation, or reasons related to essential operations.

·         Health and safety activities, such as obtaining emergency services or medical supplies.

·         Outdoor activities, such as walking, hiking, running, biking, hunting, or fishing.

·         Necessary supplies and services, such as getting groceries, gasoline, or carry-out.

·         Essential intrastate and interstate travel, such as returning to a home from outside this state.

·         Care of others, such as caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another household

·         Displacement, such as moving between emergency shelters if you are without a home.

·         Moving or relocation, such as moving to a new home or place of residence.

·         Voting, including all local and state elections.

·         Funerals, provided that no more than ten attendees are gathered and strict social distancing is enforced.

·         Tribal activities and lands, such as activities by members within the boundaries of their tribal reservation.

 Have questions or comments?  We welcome your opinion.  Please email your comments or suggestions to webmaster@lanesboroamericanlegion.org or call Anne at 507-259-1508. Thank you for your support.