Governor Walz announced a three-step process that will lead to an end of COVID-19 restrictions in the May 6 address. Restrictions will be loosened at noon on May 7, 2021, all capacity restrictions will end by May 28, and the masking requirement will be removed when 70% of Minnesotans ages 16+ are vaccinated or by July 1, whichever comes first. Full text of Executive Order 21-21 can be found here.

The changes announced in the May 6 address are as follows:

STEP ONE: Noon on Friday, May 7

• Outdoor occupancy restrictions for restaurants, bars, and other places of public accommodation offering food, beverages, or tobacco products will be completely removed.
• Indoor capacity limit per table will increase from six to ten individuals per table.
• The closing curfew of 11:00 pm will be completely removed.
• Food and beverage businesses with sufficient indoor space to exceed the 250 person capacity restriction will be able to exceed that as long as they remain within 75% capacity and can follow Stay Safe Minnesota Guidance.
• Indoor public pool capacity will be set at 50%, not to exceed 250 people; however, spaces with sufficient capacity can exceed 250 people if they can follow Stay Safe Minnesota Guidance and stay within 50% capacity guidelines. All restrictions on outdoor pool areas will be removed.
• For fitness, recreation, indoor sports facilities, and other similar facilities, the 50% capacity guidelines will continue, but only for indoor spaces within the facility. Maximum indoor capacity of 1500 for spaces capable of following Stay Safe Minnesota guidelines will be removed. Mask restrictions for these facilities will only be required indoors.
• Indoor social gatherings will increase from 15 to 50 people.
• Total indoor capacity for entertainment venues will be removed if they can safely exceed 250 people while remaining under 50% capacity and follow Stay Safe Minnesota guidelines. All outdoor capacity for these spaces will be removed.

STEP TWO: Friday, May 28

The Friday before Memorial Day will mark the end of all capacity limits both indoors and outdoors.

Three requirements will remain:

• Face coverings will continue to be required for indoor events.
• Businesses will be required to have plans that keep their employees safe (as they have had from the beginning of the pandemic), guided by a simple universal state guidance document that will include no new requirements.
• Nothing in these changes will prohibit a municipality or a business from creating their own requirements.

STEP THREE

Two business days after the announcement that 70% of Minnesotans ages 16+ are vaccinated, but no later than July 1, the remaining face covering requirement and the requirement for business preparedness plans will end.

Visit the Stay Safe MN website for more information and guidance for businesses and organizations as it is posted in the coming days.

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