So much uncertainty still surrounding lockdown orders in Minnesota
“Will Governor Walz extend Covid-19 restrictions?” is the question Minnesota business owners are asking currently. According to a report by Star Tribune,
Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce this week whether Minnesota restaurants, bars and entertainment venues that have been under forced closure since the end of November will be able to reopen soon.
Using emergency powers, Walz ordered the businesses closed to indoor use as of Nov. 21 as coronavirus diagnoses surged throughout Minnesota.
The Democratic governor later extended the closures to run through Jan. 11, a week from Monday. Word of what’s next for those businesses is likely to come this week.
Sadly, this level of uncertainty is not new. Throughout the emergency period, Minnesota business owners have resorted to guessing about the Governor’s plans and intentions regarding the timing and duration of most lockdown orders.
This is bad for business, since, as I have already written before, business owners need information to plan, make necessary changes, or make investments.
Republican state Sens. Michelle Benson and Eric Pratt said Walz should make his intentions clear on Monday.
“Anyone who runs a restaurant knows it’s not just flipping a switch to reopen,” said Pratt, of Prior Lake. “The industry needs time to order supplies and schedule employees at least a week in advance.”
Take, for instance, what happened with restaurants during the winter period. When Governor Walz instituted restrictions on indoor dining, restaurant owners invested in outside heating equipment in order to operate during the winter. However, these investments didn’t pan out since new rules were put in place banning outdoor dining.
Lockdowns have already been disastrous to the Minnesota economy. In 2020, for instance, Minnesota saw record closures of restaurants due to the lockdowns.
Further subjecting businesses to constant changes during a period when they should be focusing on recovery will only help to decimate businesses.