With the weather getting nicer, and Minnesotans suffering from spring time cabin fever, Governor Tim Walz will address his stay-at-home orders later today. They're currently set to expire on Monday, May 4th.
News Talk 830 WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson previewed what the governor will announce with Dave Lee on the WCCO Morning News.
"Walz will extend the order later today, but he'll slightly move the dial," said Olson, referencing the graphic of dials that can "safely be adjusted" for workplace, schools and social distancing that Walz shared last Thursday. "The adjustments will be focused more on the things you can do from a distance. I would call it curbside commerce. If you can do that, either late this week or early next week, in some sort of fashion, you can probably open."
Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, also appearing on the Morning News with Dave Lee, said, "We are working together on this. I'm trying to move the dial quicker. I want it to warm up a little faster. But the point is, we're trying to work together towards that. I think we'll continue to see that dial moving."
One thing that is keeping the governor cautious is the situation in Southwestern Minnesota. On Wednesday, Governor Walz travelled to Worthington, MN where there's been a coronavirus outbreak at the JBS Pork Plant. Blois Olson says Minnesota health officials are very concerned with what they've seen. "They're alarmed by Worthington, where per-capita they're on par with New York City. What they don't want to do, is create more hot spots around the state. Especially where there's not enough hospital or ICU capacity."
Other Midwest states have already put extensions in place through late May, including Illinois, and Wisconsin where Governor Tony Evers extended the stay at home order to May 26, but has continued to add businesses that can operate. Olson says Minnesota may not go that far yet.
"The extension is not going to be a super long time. Gradually, very gradually, things will be open. They can't have people sit around and wait for a month. It might feel slower and more methodical. If we get to Memorial Day, and the weather is sunny and 70? The pressure to open restaurants, to get out and about, is going to make the pressure these last few weeks look slow."
You can hear the Governor's address Thursday at 2:00p.m. live on News Talk 830 WCCO, or by listening on the RADIO.COM app.