Coronavirus Stay At Home Order: What's Open, Closed In Minnesota

Patch
·3 min read

This article originally appeared on the Southwest Minneapolis Patch

TWIN CITIES, MN — To slow the spread of the new coronavirus across the state, Gov. Tim Walz Wednesday signed Executive Order 20-20 directing Minnesotans to stay at home and limit movements outside of their home beyond essential needs.

This order takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Friday and is to end at 5 p.m. April 10.

Here's what will be open during the "stay at home" order:

  • Hospitals

  • Post offices

  • Hardware stores

  • Banks

  • Funeral homes

  • Gas stations

  • News organizations

  • Child care facilities

  • Liquor stores

  • Convenience stores

  • Food shelves

  • Pharmacies

  • Grocery stores

  • Farmers markets

  • Food Banks

  • Bakeries

  • Take-out and delivery restaurants

  • State legislature

  • Clinics

  • Hospitals

Here's what will be closed during the two-week period. Note that this is not a complete list of closures:

  • Dine-in restaurants

  • Salons and barder shops

  • Tattoo parlors

  • Country clubs

  • Concert halls

  • Movie theaters

  • Bowling alleys

  • Playgrounds

  • Arcades

  • Museums

  • Zoos

  • Gyms and fitness studios

  • Entertainment venues

  • Bars and nightclubs

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Minnesotans may leave their residences only to perform any of the following activities, and should practice social distancing while doing so:

  • 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 food.

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

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

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

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

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

Workers who work in critical sectors during this time are exempt from the stay-at-home order. These exemptions are based on federal guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, with some Minnesota-specific additions.

This includes, but is not limited to, jobs in:

  • Health care and public health

  • Law enforcement, public safety and first responders

  • Emergency shelters, congregate living facilities, drop-in centers

  • Child care

  • Food and agriculture

  • News media

  • Energy

  • Water and wastewater

  • Critical manufacturing

"We must take bold action to save the lives of Minnesotans," Walz said. "Having served as a command sergeant major in the Army National Guard, I know the importance of having a plan. While the virus will still be here when this order ends, this action will slow the spread of COVID-19 and give Minnesota time to ready for battle."

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