5-20-2020 COVID-19 Update from MN Governor Walz and MDH

MN Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Update for 5-20-2020

Read the Recap from the 5-19-2020 COVID-19 Update from the MN Department of Health Here

TODAY: Governor Walz to Participate in Daily COVID-19 Response Briefing

On Wednesday, May 20, Governor Tim Walz and other state officials participated in the daily COVID-19 media briefing to provide updates on Minnesota’s response to COVID-19. 

The following is a summary of that media briefing.

Update from Governor Walz:

• Here to talk about what to do moving forward with the Stay Safe Minnesota plan
• In the last 3 months, our whole purpose was to make sure that those who will get sick — and they will get sick because they have no therapeutics and no vaccine — that when they do get sick, they have the capacity to be able to go to the hospital and have all of the things that they need. 
• We spent a lot of time thinking about how to find a new normal — How do we make sure that the health, safety, economic and mental and physical well-being of Minnesotans is our top priority?
• As of Monday, we lifted the stay at home order, and from the very beginning, it was clear that we weren’t going to be able to shelter in place the entire time of this pandemic. We have to figure out ways to live with it. 
• We’re trying to prevent the infections from the most vulnerable
• We’re trying to give as much consistency and predicability as we can in a very unpredictable environment to those small business owners. 
• “These health guidelines are not an impediment to opening our economy. They’re the key to opening the economy.”
• Consumers are going to go back where it’s safe. And for each and every one of us, it’s our choice on how we act that’s going to impact others’ health on how we get through this.
• June 1, Minnesota will allow outdoor dining at restaurants and bars, and a measured reopening of hair salons, barber shops with limited capacity.
• Restaurants and bars are integral to our economy, and we know how many jobs they create. That industry has been hurting amongst all others. The virus won’t allow business as usual. While it’s not perfect, it’s safe, and it’s moving the dial.
• Salons and barber shops — You’ll need to make a reservation, wear a mask, wash your hands, certainly don’t go in there if you’re sick. We’re encouraging these businesses to take temperatures of people if they have that capacity.
• The situation is fluid. We’re still learning more and more every day. 
• We still do not yet know the effects of what we did on Monday with retail. It will take two weeks to 21 days to see the effects of what they did.
• This is not a perfect science. It takes a lot of data. It takes a lot of balancing one against another. 
• What impacts transmission is how close you are to another person, how long you’re around that other person, and how predictable the setting is that you’re around that other person. 
• Thank you to the trade organizations who worked with us and talked about what businesses can do
• To Minnesotans — I understand the frustrations, but the science is too strong. We can’t pretend like this isn’t a big deal. We can’t pretend with 100,000 dead Americans that this is just going to go away.
• Our peak is still coming. We are better prepared to hit it head on, but that doesn’t mean it’s going away.

Update from Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm:

• Around the world, 5 million total cases of COVID-19 and 323,000 deaths
• In the U.S. 1.5 million cases and 92,000 deaths
• In Minnesota, added 640 more lab-confirmed cases yesterday, bringing the total to 17,670.  
• Minnesota saw five consecutive days of slower rates of growth, but it’s far too soon to declare that a trend. We still haven’t seen the results of the stay at home order being lifted. 
• All of the models indicate that we are on the upswing, and anticipate the COVID-19 peak in MN to come sometime in July.  
• The measured approach to opening society makes sense, however there’s been a rise in hospitalizations and some of their ICU’s are getting full. We anticipate that some hospitals — and perhaps all of them — will be moving to activate their surge capacity in the coming weeks.
• Currently, 550 people are hospitalized, 212 in ICU
• There were 29 fatalities yesterday, bringing the total to 777. 
• The 8 counties that have had outbreaks within food production plants, the percentage of new cases in those counties seem to be leveling off. 
• MDH is looking for the community spread number to be stable, and that too has been bouncing around quite a lot. The community spread percentage is around 30%. We are not at the point where we can say that the danger has passed from a general community standpoint. That’s why it’s important to continue social distancing.  
• The decision that the governor has come to is a cautious one with the degree of community spread and case growth, and the potential for outbreaks.

Update from Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Steve Grove:

• Walking through details of the announcement to reopen businesses
• Go to mn.gov/COVID19 and click on the Stay Safe MN tab. “You’ll see a grid that lays those phases out.”  
• The phase that’s going into effect on June 1
  • The big change focuses on restaurants, bars, personal care services, campgrounds and charter boats
• Restaurants and bars:
  • Starting June 1, can be open for outdoor dining only
  • Six-feet between tables
  • No more than 50 total people at a restaurant to keep that cap at a manageable level
  • The party size, we’re asking people to keep it to 4 total, or 6 if you’re a family.
  • Reservations will be required.
  • All workers in these settings should wear masks. Customers are encouraged to wear masks too (obviously not when eating or drinking).
  • For restaurants without outdoor seating, we’re eager to see municipalities get creative to find ways to make makeshift outdoor space work. “We know that the different cities have different zoning restrictions on this and we ask that they get creative on this and find ways to make this possible for restaurants who might not have access to that space.”
  • MNDot is looking into ways to find right of ways, sidewalks and parking spaces that might be available for outdoor dining. They’ll be releasing some guidance on that coming soon.
• Personal Care services (barber, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors) 
  • Limiting capacity to 25% (the percentage of the fire code)
  • Masks required for the patron and the worker.
  • Appointment only, no walk-ins. 
• Campgrounds and charter boats:
  • Allowing those operations to take place starting June 1.
  • Campgrounds need to make sure that the campsite configuration is socially distant.
  • Campgrounds will also have clear guidelines on social distancing and sanitization for the common areas. That information is on the DNR website.
  • For charter boats, they’re allowed to resume activity with appropriate social distancing on those boats.
  • Check out the DNR’s website for more info on both.
• What will be the same?
  • Gatherings of 10 or less is the limit.
  • If you’re a business than can telework, you should do that if you can get that done.
  • For retail, still at 50% capacity.
  • Churches remain at the same guidance, which is indoors 10 people or less, or outdoors, 10 people or less. Churches can, however, continue with drive-in services. 
• Changes that will come in Phase 3:
  • There’s no timing on when the next phases will begin.
  • Gatherings will go up to 20 or less.
  • Restaurants and bars will move into an indoor settings. Max capacity will be 50 percent indoors with 6 feet of social distancing. Masks required for both workers and customers. 
  • Personal Care services move to 50%
  • Outdoor entertainment venues will begin to reopen (such as movies in the park or concerts). But that will be topped at 250 people. Masks will also be required.
  • Churches will have opportunity to do outdoor services of 100 total people with required masks. Singing will be limited in these environments because of the ease of spreading the virus.
  • Pools will open at 50% capacity
• In Phase 4:
  • Gyms and fitness center will open during this phase.
    • This is a more risky environment due to the physical exertion, heavy breathing and sweat. 
    • Six feet of distance will be required 
    • Caps at 50%
    • Masks will be required, unless people are strenuously exercising. 
  • Movie theaters, bowling alleys and other entertainment options will open during this phase
    • Social distancing will be put into effect
    • 25% of capacity
    • Max of 250 people
    • Masks likely required as well
  • Places of worship 
    • Indoor worship will be allowed along with a max of 250 people.
• DEED will do outreach on these changes in the coming days and weeks. There is a webinar Thursday at 11 a.m. for anyone who wants to come and get further guidance.

Additional notes from the press briefing:

• Governor Walz says he’s concerned about lack of PPE at Minnesota’s health care facilities 
• Governor Walz says when people make a decision not to social distance or wear a mask, that puts more pressure on the PPE supply and the people at the hospital are put more at risk. 
• Youth sports and summer camps — nothing in the June 1 phase that changes from the previous guidance on outdoor recreation and youth sports. Day camps (which function as daycare) are okay, but sports aren’t available yet. Sports that can be played on an individual manner and in smaller groups are okay. Minnesota is not at the stage yet where games can be a part of the guidance, but that will be evaluated.
• When asked about restaurants that won’t be able to accommodate outdoor seating, the governor said, “Even if there were no restriction on this, it’s going to be very difficult to get people to go indoors. Especially those that know that Minnesota’s infection rates are relatively high right now.”
• The governor reiterated that he has been working with the legislature through this process.
• As for why personal care businesses can open and restaurants can’t, Malcolm says there won’t be a lot of people in a barber shop or salon at one time. Those aren’t generally long encounters either. But in a restaurant, the point is to stay, converse and have a good time. 
• As for why restaurants can have 50 people outside and churches can only have 10, the governor admits that his team struggled with the decision. 
• The governor received a question as to why the state isn’t conducting 20,000 tests a day. Walz said there’s still a supply chain issue. But the good news is that MN has the capacity to test 10,000 people a day. 
• Commissioner Malcolm said that there’s disappointment that more people aren’t coming in for testing. The MDH is going to have to take the test to the more vulnerable populations. 
• Walz says testing supplies bound for Minnesota were intercepted by the federal government. 
• If someone has to leave work because of COVID-19 or are furloughed temporarily, they are eligible for unemployment.
• The governor received a question about casinos re-opening… these 11 independent entities have the opportunity to do the decisions that they make. Governor says the state is learning from them about how they’re reopening. 

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