COVID-19 Impact: Governor Orders Closure of Minnesota Restaurants, Bars

In another significant response to the coronavirus outbreak, Governor Tim Walz has ordered the closure of all Minnesota restaurants and bars. The closure will take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Restaurants will still be able to offer takeout, curbside pickup and delivery.

In addition to restaurants and bars, the governor ordered the closure of theaters, museums, amusement parks, bowling alleys, fitness centers and community clubs. The order is expected to last at least through March 27

The full list of closures are as follows:

• Restaurants, food courts, cafes, coffeehouses, and other places of public accommodation offering food or beverage for on-premises consumption, excluding institutional or in-house food cafeterias that serve residents, employees, and clients of businesses, child care facilities, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
• Bars, taverns, brew pubs, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, tasting rooms, clubs, and other places of public accommodation offering alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption.
• Hookah bars, cigar bars, and vaping lounges offering their products for on-premises consumption.
• Theaters, cinemas, indoor and outdoor performance venues, and museums.
• Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, and spas.
• Amusement parks, arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, indoor climbing facilities, skating rinks, trampoline parks, and other similar recreational or entertainment facilities.
• Country clubs, golf clubs, boating or yacht clubs, sports or athletic clubs, and dining clubs.

The announcement came during a press conference Tuesday evening held by Walz and state health officials. The order follows the governor’s announcement Sunday to close all public schools starting Wednesday through March 27.

The measures are meant to “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 illnesses. The number has grown to 54 by Monday afternoon with the virus spreading among Minnesotans. Young adults are making up a sizable portion of new cases, health officials said.

The announcement by Walz comes hours after federal officials advised Monday against any gatherings larger than 10 people.

Chef Andrew Zimmern at governor press conference.

Minnesota joins a host of other states, including Illinois and Ohio in temporarily banning dining out.

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