Minn Gov. Tim Walz announces new COVID restrictions, warns people not to talk too loudly
In announcing new COVID restrictions for his state at a presser, Minnesota’s Democrat Gov. Tim Walz advised his constituents to turn down their personal volume when they are socializing because loud talkers could spread the virus.
“The louder you speak — if you’re singing, if you’re playing darts, standing next to someone in a crowded bar and you’re yelling back and forth, it seems like these things shouldn’t be as risky or elevated. What we’ve seen is that they do do that,” the governor claimed about the need to speak softly.
The coronavirus is reportedly surging in the state, with about 5,000 new cases logged on Wednesday, November 11, alone, along with a record 56 deaths, prompting Walz to implement various limitations on personal behavior and business operations. The state has seen about 195,000 COVID cases (which may or may not be a reference to positive test results) since the pandemic began, resulting in approximately 2,700 fatalities.
“I feel like the guy in Footloose, No dancing, no fun, no whatever. That is not my intention. My intention is to keep you safe so you can all dance a lot longer,” Walz explained about what he characterized as “painful” constraints that he was announcing.
Among the restrictions that are taking effect on the evening of Friday the 13th, the governor is imposing a 10-person limit for indoor and outdoor social gatherings, comprising three households or less.
Wedding receptions “and similar events” (i.e., funerals) are subject to a 50-person limit, with a 25-person limit kicking in on December 11, with a 10 p.m. cutoff.
Watch a portion of the Walz press conference embedded below:
Some critics of similar measures that have gone into implementation around the country have wondered why government bureaucrats seem to think that COVID is more contagious after 10 p.m. or some other arbitrary time period.
As of Friday night in Minnesota, bars and restaurants are subject to an indoor and outdoor capacity limitation of 50 percent up to 150 customers These venues must stop serving dine-in meals at 10 p.mm., although takeout can remain operational.
Walz is an Army National Guard veteran and more-or-less a career politician who received a bachelor’s degree in social science rather than a hard science.
Those who appear most at risk for COVID are the very elderly and those with chronic health challenges such as obesity or diabetes, or others with weakened immune systems.
Late last month, President Trump scolded the governor and the state’s attorney general Keith Ellison for unsuccessfully trying to limit attendees at an outdoor campaign rally even though they did little or nothing to stop rioters during civil unrest in Minneapolis over the summer.
The Liberal Democrat Governor of Minnesota tried to shut us down by only allowing 250 inside President @realDonaldTrump’s peaceful protest, but Gov FAILED.
MINNESOTA showed up for President Trump OUTSIDE his rally‼️ pic.twitter.com/5PAMPuopqA
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) October 30, 2020
