Dear Friends,
We are nearing the very end of April and the ice is rapidly leaving our lakes. Hope is in the air!
Returning to Work
We are just ten days away from the May 4th end to the Governor’s Stay at Home order and progress is being made on re-opening Minnesota for business.
On Wednesday, Governor Walz announced a new partnership with Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota to coordinate COVID-19 testing throughout the state, with a goal of processing 20,000 tests per day.
Yesterday, Governor Walz signed a new executive order to allow businesses in manufacturing, industrial, and office settings that are non-customer facing to reopen.
This order could help as many as 100,000 Minnesotans return to work starting on Monday, April 27. Businesses must create and share a safety plan for keeping employees safe, conduct daily health screenings of employees upon their arrival, and continue teleworking whenever possible.
Click here for more details on the order.
The Department of Labor and Industry will have an optional template plan available to use as a starting point and will be hosting two webinars to discuss this process. More information on the webinars can be found here.
While today's news is encouraging for thousands of businesses who have been waiting to safely reopen their doors, I know many are still frustrated and uncertain about the days and weeks ahead, wondering when they will be able to do the same. I hope that today's announcement is a path forward so we can get our economy moving again and help Minnesotans return to work safely.
We will continue working with the Walz administration to help reopen as many businesses as possible and do it in a way that protects the health and safety of employees and our communities.
Schools to Remain Closed for the Year
In yesterday’s briefing, the Governor also announced that Minnesota’s schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Today’s 2:00 p.m. briefing will focus further on schools and what the administration is planning for our students going forward into the year 2020.
Guidance for Resorts, RV Resorts, and Campgrounds
I have received a lot of questions from many of you about the status of resorts and how recent Executive Orders from Governor Walz has impacted the industry.
Despite some confusion, resorts were never actually closed under any of the Governor’s Executive Orders. Here is the most up to date and accurate guidance we have:
- The hotel portions of resorts (including rented cabins) can open as planned and can accept guests.
- Guests do not have to be members of a critical sector to stay at a resort.
- Communal amenities may not be open for use.
- While resorts can accept visitors, the Stay at Home Order continues to discourage unnecessary travel, and the Order asks people to remain close to their homes.
- Resorts do not have to open if they are not comfortable doing so.
Maintenance and cleaning staff can begin work now to prepare for the season. It goes without saying that the health and safety of employees and guests should remain a priority throughout the season.
We received additional guidance regarding RV resorts and campgrounds as well. Those guidelines can be found below.
Information for RV resorts and campgrounds can be found here.
Staying in Touch
Please continue to contact me on any legislative matter. I value your opinion and you can best reach me at 651-296-4936 or rep.sandy.layman@house.mn.
Talk to you soon,
Sandy