Minnesota Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Walz slightly adjusting Covid business restrictions.

“I am glad restaurants are allowed to remain open later, but the rest of these changes are nothingburgers. They are changes in name only, to make it look like he is loosening his grip on Minnesotans. The current state of the pandemic is really encouraging, but businesses are still struggling. These businesses have operated safely before and they can do it again. We’ve got to let them open safely, get kids back into classrooms, and start to return to normalcy.”

Executive Order 21-07, effective Saturday, February 13 at noon, takes the following steps:

• Increases the “not to exceed” capacity in restaurants to 250, while leaving the maximum capacity at 50 percent

• Increases indoor entertainment “not to exceed” capacity to 250, while leaving the maximum capacity at 25 percent

• Increases private events and celebrations “not to exceed” capacity to 50, while leaving the maximum capacity at 25 percent

• Increases gym and pool “not to exceed” capacity to 250, while leaving maximum capacity at 25 percent, and reducing distancing requirement to 6 feet.

• Allows restaurants to stay open until 11 p.m.