Lockdown End Finally in Sight
More than a year ago, we were told by Governor Walz we needed two weeks to flatten the curve, to protect our health care system and to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed—it's been a long two weeks.
We accomplished this months ago, the science, and data continue to show we are going in the right direction. This is thanks in large part to the citizens of Minnesota, from the youngest to the oldest in all walks of life, stepping up to do what was right to take care of their neighbors. For far too long these infringements on our God given rights, mandates forced on us under the guise of 'it's to protect us' should have ended long ago.
Minnesotans can and should have been trusted to do the right thing. Stay home when sick and take care of the most vulnerable. The day our health care systems were no longer in danger of being overwhelmed was the day we should have started the reopening process. Now it's too late for many of our most vulnerable who died in long term care facilities, our young who had over a year of their lives stolen from them by mandates that were enforced though guilt and shaming, the toll it has taken on the mental health of so many others, and the loss of so many small businesses. Governor Walz unilateral control and abuse of power has left a trail of sorrow and ruin behind him.
Below, are the updated "phases" announced on Thursday by Governor Walz — announced without consulting the legislature you elected to be your voice in St Paul. By continuing to hold on to and abuse his emergency powers, the Governor has essentially silenced the voice of the citizens of Minnesota — it's time to open up and end the emergency powers and stop infringing on our God given rights and freedoms.
The 3 Phases of Reopening:
May 7 Step one takes place at noon on May 7. It includes initial steps to relax some restrictions, primarily in outdoor settings.
- Removes limits for outdoor dining, events, and other get-togethers, and ends the mask requirement outdoors except at large venues with over 500 people.
- Eliminates the state-established mandatory closing time for bars, restaurants, and food and beverage service at other places of public accommodation.
May 28
The second step begins on May 28. Remaining capacity and distancing limits will come to an end, including for indoor events and gatherings. The requirements that will remain include:
- Face coverings indoors and for outdoor events that exceed 500 people.
- There will be no new safety requirements for businesses, though they must maintain their plans to keep their employees and customers safe – as they have from the beginning of the pandemic – guided only by a minimal universal state guidance document.
July 1 The third step takes place once 70 percent of Minnesotans age 16 years and older – 3,087,404 Minnesotans – get at least one dose of the vaccine, but no later than July 1.
- The remaining face covering requirement and the requirement for preparedness plans will end. Work on vaccines will continue, and local jurisdictions and entities may set their own mask policies.
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