Minnesota’s coronavirus situation is changing for the worse every day. 

We’re seeing a major spike in cases, hospitalizations, ICU care, and deaths. On Wednesday, health officials reported a record 67 COVID-19 deaths, putting Minnesota at over 3,000 deaths since the pandemic began. Health care workers are getting sick, tired, and struggling to care for everyone who needs it. And hospitals are near the crisis of turning away new patients.

Continuing as things are is just not sustainable.

As a result, Governor Tim Walz announced a four-week pause on social activities, in-person dining, sports, and fitness establishments. The pause begins on November 20 at 11:59 p.m. and goes until Friday, December 18.

Here’s what you need to know about MN’s newest COVID-19 guidelines:

1. In-person social gatherings with individuals outside your household are prohibited. That means no indoor or outdoor gatherings with anyone other than immediate household members.
2. Restaurants and bars will be closed, except for delivery and takeout. 
3. Gyms, fitness studios, entertainment venues, event spaces, and similar establishments will be closed.
4. All adult and youth sports will be paused.
5. Retail businesses, salons, and places of worship will continue to operate with proper precautions in place. 
6. Childcare will remain open. 
7. Schools will continue to operate under the Safe Learning Plan, which shifts between in-person, distance, and hybrid learning depending on the local conditions of the virus.

Support for small businesses and unemployed Minnesotans:

To support small businesses that are struggling as they do their part to combat the spread of COVID-19, last week Gov. Walz announced an additional $10 million in Small Business Relief Grants. He’s also pushing the federal government for additional support. And Minnesotans with questions about unemployment insurance can visit uimn.org.

We’re in this together

We all know that these guidelines come at a very difficult time, the holidays, when nobody wants to stay home and stay apart. But they will help prevent more families from losing a loved one and will help make sure our hospitals can treat those who become sick. And they are the fastest way to rebuild our economy, keep kids in school, and get back to the activities we love.

At the beginning of the pandemic, we all did our part to slow the spread of the virus and build up hospital capacity. And now we need to take action to keep ourselves, our loved ones, our health care workers, and our communities safe. Working together, we can get this virus under control, save lives, and come out a stronger Minnesota.