Phase Three of Minnesota’s Stay-Safe Plan is Underway

Phase Three of Minnesota’s stay-safe plan is underway, with more restaurants, gyms and retail stores open. Social distancing is still required and so are masks in many places.

Testing is available, and recommended for anyone who was or is part of the mass protests or ongoing gatherings following the death of George Floyd. In the Twin Cities free testing is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  

The state is working on expanding the availability of free tests, so that anyone who wants a test can get one – and get their results within 72 hours.

Twin Cities residents can arrange tests through the Indian Health Board or the Native American Community Clinic on Franklin Avenue.

And everyone can consult the Minnesota Department of Health website to find out where to get free tests. Many locations require appointments or an advance phone or video consultation.

The state says data collected from those tests and in this new, more open phase will be used to plan for Phase 4, which Governor Tim Walz hopes to begin by July 4.

“I would hope earlier if we can, we should have a pretty good idea by the twentieth,” said Governor Walz

Phase Four would likely open summer camps, competitive youth and professional sports – with modifications. Officials are cautiously optimistic because the state has not seen the surge in cases it expected after the protests.  The number of patients in the hospital is the lowest since early May. Health officials say this data supports the idea that the virus doesn’t spread as easily outdoors. They’ll be looking at similar data from other states as they decide how to proceed.

On June 10, the Governor convened a special session of the legislature to begin June 12.  June 12 is also when the current declaration of peacetime emergency expires.  The Governor will extend the declaration for another 30 days to keep dealing with Covid-19. He said he expects the special session to last several weeks in order to address economic fallout from the pandemic as well as public safety concerns and police reform.