COVID-19 News: Walz stay-at-home order goes into effect tonight at midnight
To slow the spread of COVID-19 across the state, Governor Tim Walz on Wednesday signed an Executive Order directing Minnesotans to stay at home and limit movements outside of their home beyond essential needs.
This order takes effect tonight at midnight, and ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10.
The Governor’s two-week order to stay home is forecast to slow the spread of COVID-19, and allow the state time to make preparations for the pandemic, including building hospital capacity, and increasing access to life-saving equipment like ventilators.
From midnight tonight until April 10, Minnesotans may leave their residences only to perform any of the following activities, and while doing so, they should practice social distancing:
- Health and safety activities, such as obtaining emergency services or medical supplies
- Outdoor activities, such as walking, hiking, running, biking, hunting, or fishing
- Necessary Supplies and Services, such as getting groceries, gasoline, or carry-out
- Essential and interstate travel, such as returning to a home from outside this state
- Care of others, such as caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another household
- Displacement, such as moving between emergency shelters if you are without a home
- Relocation to ensure safety, such as relocating to a different location if your home has been unsafe due to domestic violence, sanitation, or essential operations reasons
- Tribal activities and lands, such as activities by members within the boundaries of their tribal reservation
Workers who work in critical sectors during this time are exempt from the stay at home order.