Loosening MN Restrictions

I'm george mallet./// first tonight: governor tim walz today announced a sweeping loosening of pandemic restrictions.

Including allowing restauants to operate at 75 percent capacity beginning monday.

Kimt news 3's samantha soto joins us live at one of the many rochester restaurants raring to roll.

George ?

"*?

"* bars and restau are increasing allowable occupancy to 75 percent up from 50 percent ?

"* with a limt of 250 people.

I spoke to local restaurant operators about this positive change for their businesses.

Local rochester restaurants are looking forward to this next step toward fully reopening.

Canadian honker's, nick powers, says he has noticed clientele confidence coming back.

The restaurant has been operating with only half its staff since the shut down ?

"* and is now bringing staff back.

"you made changes ?

"* some of them you were forcd to, some of them you did bc it was better for the business and some of those will stay in place."

Saints on second ?

"* also says it has been bringing back laid off employees in preperation.

Food and beverage manager patricia reddings says the restaurant is anticipating more guests now that they won't have to wait long to odine?

"*in.

"our guests wanna get out, wanna feel normal, they wanna get out of the house ?

"* look it's a nice suny day ?

"* let's go somewhere."

Both restaurants tell me they don't see takeout service going away ?

"* and it has helpd business stay consistent.

Being located right near st mary's hospital ?

"* has also brought in business.

Restaurants are hopeful for the coming months, seeing this lift in restrictions as the light at the end of the tunnel.

"what i believe is that this is really going to push thru and we're going to be back to normal hopefully originally thinking."

Oo while these new measures are set to take place monday ?

"* governor walz urges minnesotans to continue to wear masks and social distance.

Restaurants are still maintaining 6 feet of distance between guests to reduce the spread of the virus.

Live in rochester samantha soto kimt news 3.

Thank you samantha.

The limits apply separately indoors and outdoors.

Bar seating increases to parties of 4.