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Chamber: 'We will have to be top-notch'

Subhead
Businesses welcome ease of restrictions, but prepare for post-pandemic challenges
By
Lori Sorenson

An indoor mask-wearing mandate will end by July 1, and restrictions on businesses and social gatherings will end May 28 under a plan that Gov. Tim Walz announced last week.
As of Friday there are no longer caps on capacity of gatherings for outdoor entertainment venues.
“We know that outdoor activities and events pose a relatively lower risk of COVID-19 transmission,” Walz said.
“For that reason, and because of the positive trends we have seen from our vaccination efforts, we will take immediate steps to relax restrictions on outdoor venues.”
He said there would be an expansion of caps for indoor venues, and an end to early bar and restaurant closing times.
All caps will be eliminated May 28 ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
Walz said the mandate requiring masks in indoor public spaces could be lifted before July 1 if the state can increase the rate of Minnesotans who have received COVID-19 vaccine to 70 percent.
 
Local response
Luverne Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere said easing restrictions will make a big difference to local businesses that have operated in pandemic mode for over 15 months.
“Although we have to wait until after July 1 to expect ‘normal’ operations, this is certainly a big step,” Lanphere said. 
“With vacation travel starting in May, it is very important that these businesses are able to plan ahead – to have product and staff to handle business and be ready to meet the pent-up demand of our residents and visitors.”
She said business owners will need to work hard to gain back the shoppers and patrons they lost during the pandemic restrictions.  
 “In the past year, people’s habits for entertainment, shopping, business and travel have changed. We will have to work together to draw them back and when we get them back – we have to deliver everything top-notch,” Lanphere said.
“Every person they meet, business they visit, experience they have – has to be out of this world. Our businesses in Luverne and Rock County have that reputation, and I believe that they will deliver.”  
She challenged businesses to be creative in drawing back customers.
“In this post-pandemic world, the secret may be to provide an experience that they can’t duplicate any other way,” Lanphere said.
“We hope that businesses are able to have the products and staff they need to handle pent-up demand.”
However, some things will be beyond the control of local business owners.
“Rising costs of materials … how the costs of inputs are going to affect our ag producers, builders, production facilities, etc,” she said.
“I would say that the biggest take-away is that there is pent-up demand and pent-up interest … but many businesses are having a hard time delivering because they can’t get product and don’t have enough help to fill the demand.”
She said some economic experts predict that businesses who saw revenue grow in the pandemic may have a harder time in the post-pandemic economy, and those that suffered in the pandemic will grow.
Regardless, she said, it won’t be easy for anyone in the coming months, but there is optimism as the economy emerges from pandemic restrictions.
“Our resourceful and creative businesses can respond to the needs of their customers and market their products and services freely — without government control,” Lanphere said.
“Rock County businesses have come through hardships before and have used their ingenuity to continue to flourish. I believe they will again.”
 
Just in time for summer
Walz’s announcements come just ahead of graduations, wedding season and summer community festivals and celebrations.
The immediate changes on Friday allow indoor social gatherings of up to 50 people and outdoor gatherings or entertainment events with no caps or social distancing requirements.
Outdoor mask-wearing is no longer required by the state except in close-contact work situations and at entertainment venues and events with more than 500 people.
Indoor caps will remain in place for bars and restaurants until May 28, but servers can serve 10 people at one table instead of six.

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