Minnesotans jumped on the opportunity to share which businesses they feel should reopen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Tim Walz ordered the shutdown of non essential businesses last month. Last week, he issued a new executive order directing his staff to assess which institutions will be allowed to re-open on a case by case basis. Days ago, the Senate Republicans added a new page to their website asking citizens for input as to which business they believe should be allowed to re open. Now, the Republicans report that over 1,600 Minnesotans have chimed in, sharing which businesses they feel should resume normal operation.
The new site asks respondents to say which “industry” Walz should allow to reopen. The most common response “by far was some variation of ‘all’ ‘any’ and ‘everything,'” according to a Senate Republicans release.
Minnesotans were also asked how their small businesses and other public spaces can reopen while using safe procedures.
“We will distance families from each other and provide hand sanitizer and use caution for distributing any sacraments. We also will disinfect between services. We have plenty of space to gather in,” says a pastor from Finlayson, per the release.
“Thinking from a large enough restaurant perspective, a combination of disinfecting with the correct chemicals that can kill the virus in less than a minute, physical spacing between tables, table rotation, responsible customers to manage the space guidelines will keep employees safe as well as the customers,” said a restaurant owner in Elk River.
The Senate Republicans promise to “promote your suggestions through our outreach to the press and on social media.”
So far, the governor’s economic shutdowns have caused 407,362 workers to file for unemployment in Minnesota since March 15, reports Business North. About 15% of Northeast Minnesota is out of work. Many long standing small businesses have also been forced to close their doors and shutter the windows permanently, according to the Star Tribune and the Minneapolis Saint Paul Business Journal.
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
