Gov. Tim Walz said many nonessential businesses are shutting down through March 27 to help combat the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Businesses such as bars, restaurants, amusement facilities and accommodations will be closed as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state continue to rise.
Most of the state's cases of the virus came from international travel, but state officials said there is also evidence of community spread.
“It will certainly be the greatest one-day influx we have ever attempted to process,” Walz said.
Minnesota doesn't have estimates for the amount of people filing for unemployment, but there will be hundreds of thousands, state officials said. The unemployment insurance program will pay a resident of the state half of their regular earned wages and up to $740 a week, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Steve Grove said.
A trade group for the industry Hospitality Minnesota said more than 300,000 are expected to file for unemployment.
"Hospitality is a critical driver of our state economy and identity and will require significant additional economic relief as a result of this pandemic," Hospitality Minnesota President and CEO Liz Rammer said in a statement.
But Minnesota law said that residents don't meet requirements for the insurance until they have been going a week without getting paid.
Walz has gotten rid of this week waiting period, which will help workers receive their insurance benefits faster.
Some employees will likely decide to use their paid time off first, Grove said.
“We know that some people have paid leave available to them,” Grove said. “Those programs will probably pay you more than unemployment insurance.”
Walz said the closures will also most likely last past March 27.
“This is the beginning of it,” he said. “This is to set the parameters, if you will. Most of us understand there will probably be a further extension.”
Closures could also move beyond nonessential services and businesses.
“We’re getting to the point now where if it seems like it’s not a good idea, it’s probably not a good idea,” Walz said.
Andrew Zimmern, Minnesota chef, spoke at the press conference.
“We need to make sure that when this pandemic is finally over — and it will be over — that we have restaurants that can reopen,” Zimmern said. “The harsh reality is that most won’t.”
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