June 10th is the date that phase 3 begins in our state’s fight against COVID-19 as some businesses begin to re-open after months of state ordered closures.
The new guidance means indoor restaurants, swimming pools, movie theaters, fitness clubs and other venues can resume limited business. Churches, hair salons and indoor bars and restaurants can serve up to 50% of their capacities, while fitness centers, bowling alleys and movie theaters can serve 25% of their capacities.
No venues, indoors or outdoors, can host more than 250 people.
Governor Walz wants people to remember that COVID-19 still poses a danger and that until we develop immunity or a vaccine, we have to continue measures to keep people safe.
“What Minnesotan’s need to remember is, we may need to do this until next February or March or whenever that time comes,” said Governor Walz “But that doesn’t mean can’t be smart about how we roll back into business.”
Governor Walz noted that when this all began, our state was not prepared for the danger the Coronavirus posed. But during the last two months, hospitals have built up capacity, we have the necessary supplies to protest healthcare workers, and we now have widespread testing available.
“We have the capacity now, to reach those numbers that we talked about. The idea just a month ago, that we could test over ten-thousand people on a daily basis was that moon shot we were looking for, now we’re looking at the height of this, we’d like to get over 20-thousand if that’s what we need,” said Governor Walz.
Health officials say we now have the capacity to test anyone who wants to get tested. If you have symptoms, get tested right away. Even if you don’t have symptoms, get tested around 5-7 days after exposure to large group.
Contact your health care provider to get tested. Or you can use a public testing station.
Social distancing and washing your hands frequently is still the best way to prevent transmission of the virus.
This MN Native News COVID-19 Daily Update is supported by the MN Dept. of Health.