Timeline of business-related executive orders and guidance

May 20 Guidance on reopening and continued closures

On Wednesday, May 20, Governor Walz announced outdoor restaurant patios, salons and campgrounds could open at limited capacity on June 1. However, indoor bars and restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and bowling alleys will remain closed until an unknown date in the future. While continued progress to reopen is important, we hoped the governor would take more meaningful steps today. We understand the focus on safety, and so do businesses that have protection plans in place and are ready to open. The approach announced today doesn’t sufficiently recognize the ability of businesses – many of them small businesses – to innovate and protect employees and customers. 
 
This additional delay must have a timetable for the future. Without further action to promptly open, more of our small businesses will be unable to return, serve their customers and support their communities.
 
Reopening guidance from DEED includes: 
 
Restaurants and bars can reopen for outdoor service only as long as they:

• Have adopted and implemented a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
• Ensure a minimum of 6 feet of distance between tables
• Limit on-premises capacity to no more than 50 persons
• Limit table service to 4 persons, or 6 if part of one family unit
• Require reservations in advance
• Require workers to wear masks and strongly encourage masks be worn by customers 

Personal care services (such as hair salons, barbershops and tattoo parlors) can reopen to provide services indoor as long as they:

• Have adopted and implemented a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan
• Limit number of clients inside the business at any time to ensure 6 feet of distance between persons except when providing services
• Reduce occupant capacity to no more than 25%
• See clients by appointment only; do not allow walk-ins
• Require workers and clients to wear masks at all times; do not provide services that cannot be performed without masks 

Click here to view additional guidance. 
 

COVID-19 Prevention Best Practices

Best practices to help your business return to work safely. If you would like one-on-one assistance to develop a “return to work” plan, contact the Grow Minnesota! Partnership team at kschaff@mnchamber.com. 

COVID-19 RESOURCES

As the COVID-19 crisis develops, we will remove older resources from the COVID-19 Business Toolkit and will house them in the COVID-19 Business Toolkit Archive. Can't locate a particular resource? Feel free to contact us at mail@mnchamber.com.