Walz Will Close Bars, Restaurants Amid Coronavirus Surge: Report

TWIN CITIES, MN — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will reportedly use his emergency powers to close down restaurants, bars, and gyms in an attempt to combat the latest surge of coronavirus cases in Minnesota, according to a report.

A source told the Star Tribune that bars and restaurants will only be allowed to offer takeout for a four-week period. There will also be a pause placed on youth sports, the newspaper reported.

The closures are expected to begin Friday.

Patch will carry a livestream of Walz's address at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The new measures will come less than a week after the governor announced additional restrictions and rules that apply to celebrations, receptions, bars, and restaurants, which have been identified as the most significant sources of COVID-19 outbreaks in the state.

And as of Monday, the state's top health officials have begun asking Minnesotans not to gather with other households for Thanksgiving or other social events this month, given the state's high rate of coronavirus infections.

"Right now, frankly, any gathering of more than a few people and with more than your immediate household presents a much higher risk than was the case even a couple of weeks ago," Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said at a news conference Monday.

Malcolm acknowledged the hard sacrifice Minnesotans are being asked to make, but said it could save lives and help relieve pressure on the state's hospitals and hospital staff.
Malcolm called the latest surge "very terrifying."

"In Minnesota, we've had alarming numbers for several days now," she said, citing Saturday's daily record of nearly 8,700 cases. The state saw close to 24,000 cases of COVID-19 over a three-day period, with an average of about 8,000 each day.

On Tuesday, state health officials reported nearly 6,000 new cases and 26 deaths from the virus.

Read more at the Star Tribune.