With news of several Minnesota restaurants and bars disobeying the governor’s executive orders and opening up regardless, one of the country’s leading infectious disease experts is warning against some of the images he has seen of the establishments.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division notified Alibi Drinkery in Lakeville and Neighbors on the Rum in Princeton of violations on Wednesday evening after several photos were shown of the bars open and serving customers.
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Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease, research and policy at the U of M and also a member of President-Elect Biden's COVID advisory board, spoke to News Talk 830 WCCO’s Chad Hartman about that, and the Governor’s orders, Thursday afternoon.
“This virus doesn't care what you think or what you do in terms of everyday life like that, unless you're taking the steps to prevent transmission,” Osterholm warmed. “So when you're in a public setting like that have no doubt, none, that there will be transmission in places like this, a restaurant or bar. And you know, at the time it seems harmless. It seems as if it's overreaching requirements. And that is easy to say until you're in a hospital and you may be the way on your death bed.”
Almost nobody in the shared photos had been wearing a mask or social distancing. Osterholm says these are prime spaces to spread the virus.
“That's what we saw happen with bars and restaurants,” Osterholm told Chad Hartman. “We saw a substantial transmission in this state and we continue to worry about that going forward. You know, we are right now in a period where case numbers are coming down, which is a good thing. But as you may recall, we've been down and up before. We worry that we could come way back up again and really challenge our hospitals. So I think it's a disappointment.”
Darius Teichroew from Reopen Minnesota also joined Hartman Thursday and said what the state is doing is unconstitutional and the state is overstepping it's rights. He also says they fully understand the risks involved.
“If we assume that the governor is able to create laws outside of the legislatures involvement, if he's able to turn these actually into laws, as opposed to this executive orders that the force of law behind them, then yes, definitely. We understand that in that situation there, they're taking that risk upon themselves.”
Teichroew says the governor has put these businesses in a position to have to defy his orders.
“They have been put in that position by our governor and I think in some ways more so even by the attorney general and the fact that, I mean, many of these businesses if you polled them, they would be open in a heartbeat.”
Many, including Teichroew, say the data showing that the actual positivity rate in restaurants is low and that they would like to see what Walz is referring to. Osterholm says those in the restaurant industry saying that are not correct.
“No, they're not. And you know, I understand that this is a challenging issue and, you know, I feel very badly for those who are being economically disadvantaged. There's no question about that. And as you've heard me say for months and months, I've been a strong supporter for financial relief for restaurants and bars, and that the government should be helping out to cover their costs. The same thing is true with the workers. They should not have to suffer because they've had to do something to help protect the public's health. But the evidence is clear and compelling that restaurants and bars are heavily involved. And this is not just a Minnesota. This is states around the country. We have many outbreaks associated here in bars and restaurants. I have knowledge personally of individuals who thought, well, I'll just go get one more dinner. And they got infected and in multiple instances were critically ill.”
Despite the criticism Walz is facing, Dr. Osterholm says during impossible circumstances, he supports the governor’s decision making so far.
“I find that his approach, his use of data, his willingness to take many different considerations from very disparate parties is the best I could hope for," Osterholm says.
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