Mayor Jacob Frey declared Monday a local public health emergency in Minneapolis, which includes the temporary closure or limited accessibility of restaurants, coffee shops, nightclubs and bars due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The emergency will shutter these establishments starting at noon Tuesday, allowing only delivery, takeout and drive-thru orders, according to a city news release.
Cafes near the University of Minnesota have already started to close. Dinkytown’s Starbucks has closed its cafe seating areas, allowing only grab-and-go options. Simpls in Stadium Village posted a sign reading that they are temporarily closed starting Monday.
The Minneapolis City Council must vote within 72 hours of the declaration to allow it to be continued past that time. Frey requested that it stay in effect as long as Minnesota’s peacetime emergency declaration does, which was announced by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Friday. On Monday, Walz also closed restaurants and bars statewide
Last week, the University suspended all in-person instruction until at least April 1 amid growing concerns over COVID-19. Days later, University officials also announced that a University student had tested positive for the virus. On Monday, the University extended the suspension through the rest of the semester.
This is a breaking news report. More information will be added as it becomes available.