Coronavirus: Minnesota's 'Stay At Home' Order Extended To May 4

MINNESOTA — To continue slowing the spread of the new coronavirus across Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz Wednesday extended the "Stay Home Order" until May 4. The original order, which went into effect March 27, was set to expire Friday.

The directive to stay home is forecasted to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19, pushing out the peak of the disease and allowing the state to continue key preparations for the crisis.

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These preparations include:

• Building new hospital capacity and buying ventilators and masks
• Planning for how to protect those most at risk
• Expanding testing
• Freeing up time for health care giants like the Mayo Clinic to develop critical treatments for the virus.

The Stay Home Order is now extended to 11:59 p.m. on May 3.

"What we are doing is working, Minnesota," Walz said in a statement.

"We are taking this seriously, and we are staying home. While Minnesota is showing lower rates of infections than our peers across the country, now is not the time to let up or allow that trajectory to change. Updated federal guidance and our own public health experts are showing that if we keep staying home, we will save lives – which is why I made the data-driven decision to extend the Stay Home Order until May 4."

Consistent with the extended Stay Home Order, Executive Order 20-33 also extends the closure of bars, restaurants, and other public accommodations through 11:59 p.m. on May 3 and outlines exemptions to the Stay Home Order, including exempted activities and critical sector workers.

Under the extended order, Minnesotans may leave their residences only to perform the following activities, and while doing so, they should practice social distancing:

• Relocation to ensure safety, such as relocating to a different location if your home is unsafe due to domestic violence, sanitation, or reasons related to essential operations.
• Health and safety activities, such as obtaining emergency services or medical supplies.
• Outdoor activities, such as walking, hiking, running, biking, hunting, or fishing.
• Necessary supplies and services, such as getting groceries, gasoline, or carry-out.
• Essential intrastate and interstate travel, such as returning to a home from outside this state.
• Care of others, such as caring for a family member, friend, or pet in another household.
• Displacement, such as moving between emergency shelters if you are without a home.
• Moving or relocation, such as moving to a new home or place of residence.
• Voting, including all local and state elections.
• Funerals, provided that no more than ten attendees are gathered and strict social distancing is enforced.
• Tribal activities and lands, such as activities by members within the boundaries of their tribal reservation.

Executive Order 20-33 also orders that all workers who can work from home must do so. Workers in critical sectors who cannot work from home are permitted to go to work.

• Guidance related to critical sectors is available here.
• Updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota are available here.
• Frequently asked questions are available here.

The number of confirmed deaths related to the new coronavirus is up to 39 in Minnesota, state health officials announced Wednesday, up from 34 Tuesday. A total of 1,069 people have so far tested positive for COVID-19. Of those, 549 people no longer need to be isolated