Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

• Newsroom for the Office of Governor Tim Walz
• Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-81, requiring people in Minnesota to wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces and businesses, unless alone. Additionally, workers are required to wear a face covering when working outdoors in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained. (7/22/20)
• Governor Walz signed Executive Order 20-78 extending the Peacetime Emergency (7/13/2020)

• Industry Communications COVID-19 Toolkit
• COVID-19 Surveys – Minnesota’s Tourism Industry and Minnesota-oriented Consumers
• How Minnesota Tourism Businesses Are Helping Flatten The Curve
• Explore Minnesota Talking Points for Media (updated May 8, 2020)
• The transcript and audio from May 7th's Industry-wide call, with updates on current Explore Minnesota programs, industry survey findings and efforts designed to aid the industry, are now available for download. (If you encounter problems listening to the audio, please right-click and save before listening)
• The transcript and audio from April 17th's Industry-wide conference call with Kevin McKinnon, Deputy Commissioner from Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) as he talks about DEED and Small Business Administration (SBA) programs to help Minnesota's tourism industry, are now available for download. (If you encounter problems listening to the audio, please right-click and save before listening)
• The transcript and audio from April 9th's Industry-wide COVID-19 call is now available for download.
• Social Distance Activities Talking Points
• Explore Minnesota COVID-19 Social Tips (updated 10/22/20)
• Explore Minnesota Consumer Website COVID-19 Information 
• Explore Minnesota's Industry-Wide Call was held on Monday, Aug. 24, with updates on current programs, marketing campaign, industry survey, and consumer sentiments. Watch on YouTube | Download audio | Read transcript

• Stay Safe MN website 
• Stay Safe MN for Businesses and Organizations 
• Guidance for all business entities including resources for promoting mandatory face covering signage and social media graphics
• Guidance for Restaurants and Bars 
• Guidance for Retail Businesses 
• Guidance for Outdoor Recreation Entities, including campgrounds 
• Guidance for entertainment events, including meetings  
• Guidance for drive-in and vehicle gatherings 

• MDH COVID-19 Homepage 
• Protect Yourself & Others While Traveling
• MDH Guidance Library for Businesses and Employers
• Situation Update for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• State of Minnesota Public Health Campaign PDF and State of Minnesota Public Health Campaign PowerPoint 
•  Minnesota's Stay Safe Plan

• Updated industry guidance for Lodging, Hotels (8/18)

• Updated industry guidance for bars/restaurants 

• Stay Safe MN industry specific operating guidance 

• Guidance for Entertainment Entities including seated entertainment and meetings 

• Guidance for Outdoor Recreation (including campgrounds) 

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Coronavirus Updates

• UMN Tourism Center Research Showcase  See the slide deck here.  See more research here. 
• Tips for Small Town Stores
• Webinar: Retaining Businesses During the Pandemic 

• USTA COVID-19 Travel Industry Research

• Launching on Tuesday, September 8, the Let's Go There campaign with U.S. Travel aims to inspire Americans to do what is exciting and productive: make plans to travel. All resources provided by the Let’s Go There Coalition are available for public use and everyone’s participation is welcome.

  Ready for Visitors?  Access the Let's Go There toolkit. 

  Not Quite Ready to Promote Travel Broadly? Access the Let's Go There, Soon toolkit.

  NEW! Custom VIDEO Assets – Please see link to custom assets below. These links contain the working files for the social media graphics, the banners, now the video assets as well. If you have any questions on customizing the video, please contact our video manager, Nolan Nichols at nnichols@ustravel.org. We are here to help. 

  • Let's Go There Customizable Videos (zip file)
  • Let’s Go There Social Graphic Templates
  • Let’s Go There Customizable Website Banners
  Participation Checklist  As a reminder, we offer suggestions for how to get involved to keep the momentum going. This week we are suggesting messaging in a B2C and/or B2B newsletter, CEO thought leadership on LI. Sample copy for all can be found in the toolkit . Please see suggestions for next week as well to get some ideas if helpful!
• US Travel Association has shared that State and local governments may use Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) for travel promotion.  The U.S. Department of Treasury issued new FAQs for the CRF clarifying that funds may be provided to destination marketing organizations to re-market convention facilities and the tourism industry. 
• Tourism Economics week-by-week outlook on travel spending in the U.S. with looks at regional and state-by-state breakdowns. 
• Access U.S. Travel's "Assessing Recovery" webinar library 
• USTA News and Commentary
• USTA Industry Guidance for Promoting the Health and Safety of Travelers
• USTA Coronavirus Resources 

• DI Coronavirus Updates
• Recording of Webinar

• Brand USA Coronavirus Updates 
• NEW  Brand USA has developed a central repository for the most up-to-date U.S. entry information and state-specific reopening information with airline and lodging guidelines.  You can view the information here. 

• Insights on tracking consumer travel sentiments during COVID-19.

• Coronavirus and the Travel Industry Newsfeed 

• ADARA Travel Trends Tracker  

• Longwoods International News

• NEW  Daily Travel Index

• Matador COVID-19 Articles

• Letter from Commissioner Steve Grove to businesses of Minnesota regarding the Mask mandate. 
• MN DEED COVID Information Site 

• Can plexiglass shields take the place of masks for workers in kitchens because it's hot?
  • Final response forthcoming
• Are arcades attached to restaurants OK to be open?
  • Yes
• Why can't we have four people in a party sitting together at a bar? Guidance says 2, but this doesn't make sense to bars.
  • Those sitting at tables in a bar area can be seated in groups of 4. While seated at the bar (or counter), groups with more than 2 individuals would encourage people leaning in and in front of others in the group which could increase transmission.
• Can we mention dancing in the indoor entertainment guidance? It's in the bars/restaurant guidance, but absent from the indoor entertainment guidance.
  • Dancing related to celebrations: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/foodgather.pdf: *Page 2 "Activities that generally involve close contact between persons, such as dancing, should be modified to safely increase physical distance between persons from different households."
• If someone organizes a birthday party for their kid, which is a social gathering, and that party goes to an arcade, does that party have to only have 10 people since it's a social gathering? Or does it simply have to apply to the limits that exist in the guidance documents for the arcades?
  • They need to follow the requirements for arcades.
  • Follow guidance: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/foodgather.pdf
• There seems to be some confusion around reservations required with the limit being 4 at a table or 6 if family, but you can have social gatherings of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. 
  • The guidance for that industry is what governs the gathering limit. If the gathering is at a park or home, the limit would fall under social gatherings. If it's at a restaurant, it would fall under restaurant guideline.
• How about club cleaning can we clean members and guests clubs?  Should bag storage areas be open?
  • Please see Guidance for Gym, fitness centers: Page 3: Workplace cleaning and disinfection protocols 1. Establish a documented sanitation schedule and checklist, identifying surfaces/equipment to be sanitized, the agent to be used, and the frequency at which sanitation occurs. 2. Routinely clean and disinfect all areas, such as offices, restrooms, locker and changing rooms, common areas, shared electronic equipment, machinery, tools, controls, etc.
• One of my biggest concerns that hasn't been addressed is how we handle reception style service as we cannot control for social distancing when the guests are not seated.  Also, if we can have 4 people from different households sit together in a restaurant, does that apply to banquet events as well(as people in a restaurant are choosing to sit together and know one another, but at an event the guests may not necessarily know everyone).
  • Guests at a banquet style meal should be allowed to determine who they are seated with.
  • All guests must be seated, a plan should be created and administered and monitored for receptions.
  • Follow guidance: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/foodgather.pdf.
• Weddings or receptions: Sit down only for food & beverage to prevent congregating at bar or in other reception areas?  Is Dancing allowed as long as they follow social distance guidelines? 
  • Yes, sit down only for food and beverage, and at weddings/receptions.
  • More information available with new guidance doc: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/foodgather.pdf.
  • Dancing: Activities that generally involve close contact between persons, such as dancing, should be modified to safely increase physical distance between persons from different households.
• Are butler passed hors d'oeuvres's allowed?
  • Yes, this is allowed as long as the employee is wearing a face mask and shield and socially distance themselves from others. The diners must be seated.
• Are there any guidelines/restrictions for banquet bar service?
  • Same guidance as per restaurants/bars guidance
  • Additional info for banquets: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/foodgather.pdf.
  • All guests must be seated at bar or table – occupancy load to be observed.
• Relating to golf tournaments.  If all current social distancing protocols are adhered to can shotgun starts now be used and does the above apply to pre and post tournament activities (receptions)?
  • Receptions are allowed as long as they follow the guidance for restaurants & bars.
  • DNR would be comfortable with allowing a shotgun start as groups would be separated across the course. The challenge would be to maintain the 25 person group size before and after the event in the clubhouse/cart rental area, but there may be some way tournament organizers can control that.
• While a very specific aspect of golf, what would be the status of rakes on the golf course?  I think between sun and rain and infrequency of handling, that we could put rakes back out.
  • The DNR/MDH Outdoor Rec. Guidelines note that frequently touched items like rakes should be removed "to the extent possible."
• Multiple people on carts or just same family?
  • The Outdoor Rec. Guidelines currently note that shared rentals (in general) should be for same family unless "modifications are made to create a barrier between the users and they do not switch positions."
• Showers and Locker Room Usage is it allowed? 
  • Yes, Please see Guidance for Gym, fitness centers: Page 7: Only allow shower and locker room use if there are partitions or else place signage to maintain proper physical distancing of 6 feet. Reinforce distancing in these areas with posted signs. If partitions or proper physical distancing of 6 feet is not possible, these facilities should remain closed. If showers, locker rooms, and lockers are closed, ask customers to use a small gym bags to store personal belongings and provide a secure area monitored by staff.
• Can or should we provide towels?  Toiletries? 
  • As far as providing towels and toiletries at country clubs, I'm going to extrapolate from a couple of the guidance documents. I would think that some of the same things that are in the gym and fitness center guidance could apply. In that guidance, it indicates that they should limit the "products, or items touched by the customer/client while in the facility." To me this means that they probably shouldn't be providing communal toiletries, such as deodorant and hair spray. In the swimming pool reopening guidance, towels are not prohibited, it just indicates that towels should be laundered following the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely. Worker protections for handling the soiled towels, such as gloves, should be worn when handling soiled towels.

The Ninth Federal Reserve District includes the states of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northwestern Wisconsin. 

• Minneapolis Fed releases hospitality business survey results 10/20/20

• SBA Coronavirus Updates
• Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Application
• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Training Webinars
• Small Business Administration COVID-19 Guidance and Loan Assistance

• SBDC Coronavirus Updates

• Federal Coronavirus Updates 
• Treasury Department Assistance for Small Business
• Department of Labor Families First 

• Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry - Coronavirus Updates>

• CDC Traveler Information
• CDC Situation Updates
• CDC About COVID-19

• US Chamber Coronavirus Updates
• Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist 

• National Restaurant Association 
• National Restaurant Association CARES Act 

• Hospitality Minnesota - Coronavirus Updates

• Minnesota Retailers Association website 
• Guidelines for reopening retail 
• MRA presentation for the MN Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus