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With rising COVID counts nationally, Governor Walz has chosen to tighten the restrictions on social gatherings, restaurants, bars, and public accommodations.

Executive Order 20-96 modifies Executive Order 20-74 (on reopening). Below are a handful of provisions that take effect Friday, November 13, 2020.

1. There is a 10:00 p.m. curfew (ending at 4:00 a.m.) on bars, restaurants, and certain other public accommodations beginning on Friday, November 13, 2020, provided that takeout food and beverage is exempted if not consumed on premises. So, Minnesota will have British Pub hours for the near future.
2. Entertainment venues (that offer food and beverage) must prohibit consumption and not offer food or beverages between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.
3. The occupancy limits for bars, restaurants, and other public accommodations drop from 250 people to 150 people (or 50% of maximum occupancy, if less ). Indoor and outdoor seating are aggregated for meeting the 150-person limit.
4. Social gatherings are limited to ten people of no more than three households. Places of worship and other public accommodations continue to be exempt from this limit, but must comply with restrictions of Section 6(c) or Section 7(c) of Executive Order 20-74 as modified by Executive Order 20-96.
5. Venues may host certain social gatherings (weddings, funerals, etc.) with food and beverage if they (i) have a COVID 19 Preparedness Plan and (ii) abide by the 10:00 p.m. curfew, and (c) do not exceed occupancy limitations 50 people as of November 27, 2020, and 25 people as of December 11, 2020.
6. The order provides for broad injunctive and equitable relief and the recovery of attorneys' fees and cost of investigation, in additional to fines of $25,000 for violations or threatened violations of the Order. So, the attorney general has slightly more levers for enforcement.