Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is outlining new guidance on gathering sizes for restaurants and churches a the state is reopening.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Walz announced the state’s reopening guidance, which will include limited operations for businesses and restaurants. According to Walz’s new guidance, restaurants will have the ability to host up to 50 patrons for outdoor dining on patios.
It is recommended that restaurant staff and patrons wear masks but it is unclear how patrons could eat and drink while wearing one.
Although restaurant guidance offers some form of flexibility for operations, churches faced with a different issue. Under Walz’s latest guidance, churches are still limited to gatherings of 10 people or less. This is phase two of the state’s five-phase plan.
See Walz’s remarks below (starting at 45:50):
When asked about the double standard and if he could explain the decision, Walz said there is “not a perfect answer.”
“We struggle on some of these and there is not a perfect answer,” Walz said.
The Democratic governor claimed the decisions were based on the “predictability” of those visiting venues.
“I think, and I’m hearing strongly on this, of trying to figure out how we make that happen because I think the logic behind it, and I think, again, it was the predictability of who’s there,” Walz said.
Then, he conceded that church gatherings are likely attended by roughly the same people each Sunday.
He added, “But I think you could argue, ‘Boy, I see the same people every Sunday at my congregation and, in fact, the Smith’s sat in the same pew every year for 30 years, so we know exactly where they’re at and we know exactly where they are.”
Walz went on to acknowledge the urgency of figuring out the safe measures for attending religious services.
“I just want to say that I think there is a very strong sense of urgency for us to figure this piece out around churches,” Walz admitted, before adding, “And I say that about all the businesses, but I do think these pieces of people’s lives — we need to try and get it around.”
Under Walz’s current plan for reopening, churches will not be able to increase capacity until phase four. Even then, they will only be allowed to host gatherings of 20 people or less inside and 100 or less outside.
Walz’s new guidance for Minnesota’s reopening will go into effect on June 1.
