LET 'EM ALL IN!

Among the small businesses feeling the pandemic crunch the most have been bars and restaurants, who have had to shut down for a time or operate at limited capacity due to restrictions placed by Gov. Tim Walz.
Those restrictions will expire on Friday, May 28, Walz announced recently and local business owners couldn't be more pleased.
"This pandemic has been a struggle like no other," said Becky Esping, who owns and operates West End Bar in Taunton. "I, as a business owner, have never had to deal with anything like this from the bars closing completely and not knowing when we could be open and then being open with limited hours."
Not only have business owners lost money during the restricted period, staff members also have been on hiatus, not knowing when they will be able to go back to work or if they should seek employment elsewhere.
"It has been difficult to retain staff and not being able to give them the hours they need," Esping said. "It's been a stressful and financial struggle like I've never seen or ever dreamed I would go through as a business owner. I look forward to this coming to an end so we can just get back to business as normal and I am sure all our customers are looking forward to it as well."
"We are very excited to return to normalcy in some capacity after such a long year of following all of the various rules and regulations," said Jordan Dressen, manager of City Hall Bar & Grill in Minneota. "I’m excited for people to feel safe and at ease in a restaurant setting again."
Among other restrictions lifted in Walz's announcement on May 6 was that Minnesotans will not be required to wear face masks in public beginning in July. The state's mask mandate has been in effect since July 25, 2020. Some local business owners felt the restrictions should have been lifted long before this.
"It's been a long 14 months for our industry and other small businesses," said Mark Staufacker, who co-owns KB's Bar & Grill in Taunton with Kyle Brockberg. "We were very relieved and excited when the governor announced we can finally go back to full capacity at the end of May. Most of us said it's about damn time."
Because state residents continue to be vaccinated and case rates decline, Walz feels "we can now confidently and safely set out our path back to normal."
The local bar and restaurants are already getting things ready for the end of the restrictions, taking down barriers and getting staff members notified of what's in store.
KB's Bar & Grill also operates a large ballroom for weddings and other events that has also been put on hold during the pandemic.
"We will be adding a few more tables on the restaurant side to accommodate full capacity at the end of May," said Staufacker. "We are so happy and excited for all the events coming up as well. There have been a lot of cancellations and postponements over the last year and now we are so happy that they don't have to worry about cutting their guest list. They can now have more sense of freedom when planning an event in our ballroom."
This does not mean that the pandemic is over. But lifting restrictions and allowing people to again attend events and boost the economy is a step in the right direction.
The following the new guidelines as outlined by the governor:
Beginning at noon on Friday, May 7: Guest limits and social distancing requirements for outdoor gatherings and outdoor dining will be rescinded, as will masking requirements. These rules will still apply, however, to large venues with more than 500 people. Curfews imposed on bars and restaurants, meanwhile, will also end Friday afternoon.
By May 28: All remaining occupancy limits and social distancing requirements will end for indoor events and outdoor gatherings. Face coverings will still be required indoors for a time and will have to be worn at open-air events attended by more than 500 people.
When 70 percent of eligible residents have at least one dose of vaccine — the statewide mask mandate will be rescinded. Sixty percent of eligible residents have had at least one shot so far, or approximately 2.6 million people.
The plan allowing Minnesota schools to operate on an in-person or hybrid basis will stay in place until the end of the school year, and a statewide eviction moratorium will also remain in effect for an unspecified period of time. Masking will still be required for indoor youth sports until the end of the school year as well.