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Governor Walz Signs Executive Order Clarifying Businesses Subject to Closure During COVID-19 Pandemic

Closure of bars, restaurants, places of public accommodation clarified to include salons, barbershops, and similar establishments

3/18/2020 9:30:16 AM

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today signed /governor/assets/Filed%20EO-20-08_Clarifying%20Public%20Accommodations_tcm1055-423784.pdfExecutive Order 20-08, clarifying the types of businesses and places of public accommodation subject to closure per /governor/assets/2020_03_16_EO_20_04_Bars_Restaurants_tcm1055-423380.pdfExecutive Order 20-04. The executive order clarifies that the closure order applies to salons, barbershops, and other similar establishments.

“As we move quickly to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are constantly learning and adjusting to feedback from health experts, business owners, and workers,” said Governor Walz. “The best way to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to implement social distancing, and this executive order provides clarification on how we can better practice these community mitigation strategies.”

“Our goal is to offer clear guidance to business owners, employees, and the people who utilize these services on how to best protect themselves and those around them,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “We know that these closures will be challenging to many families, but it is essential that we come together as a community to support each other through this crisis.”

The full clarification is available below:

1. Paragraph 1.e. of Executive Order 20-04 is amended by the following additions (indicated by underlined text) and deletions (indicated by strikethroughs):

Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, ~~and spas~~ tanning establishments, body art establishments, tattoo parlors, piercing parlors, businesses offering massage therapy or similar body work, spas, salons, nail salons, cosmetology salons, esthetician salons, advanced practice esthetician salons, eyelash salons, and barber shops. This includes, but is not limited to, all salons and shops licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners and the Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners.

2. All other provisions of Executive Order 20-04 remain in effect.