As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to expand, Gov. Tim Walz said he is confident that Minnesota is doing its best to stop the spread and hopes the extension of the stay-at-home order until May 18 will help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

“We’re wearing masks. We’re not congregating together and that will probably continue for some time, but I do think it’s worth noting and I always think we’re careful to make sure the science is there and there’s validation that has to happen,” Walz said.

According to Walz, retail businesses with goods that can realistically be transported will open to pick up and delivery May 4 in hopes of moving toward normality and reopening the economy.

“We are moving retail businesses to reopen operations for curbside pickup and delivery, putting 30,000 Minnesotans back to work,” Walz said.

Businesses have to create a plan to protect customers before they can reopen, according to Walz. He said he is encouraging them to take protective measures to benefit their businesses. 

“The state of Minnesota is not in the business of hassling folks, we’re in the business of making them successful,” Walz said. “The business community knows if you don’t get this right, people are not going to come. If they know that your store is dangerous because you’re not adhering to those principles, people are not going to come.”

Walz said the state was looking into various solutions to allow seniors to hold some sort of graduation, given the importance of the event.

“Having just gone through a graduation last year with our senior, this is a really important rite of passage,” Walz said. “We are spending a lot of time on it. I think it’s going to be difficult to do these, but what I want to tell Minnesotans is we’re trying to figure out a way to allow some of that to happen in some way.”

Walz said he encourages people to social distance and wear masks in public to continue to help others.

“I’m going to ask you Minnesotans to continue what you’re doing in the social distancing, even if they were not a stay at home order,” Walz said. “I’m asking you to help these businesses, by doing things like social distancing and the mask when they open up, they are ready to go.” 

In Nobles County, there was a dramatic increase in case numbers, taking it close to the per capita infection rate in New York. Walz said this shows Minnesota can’t slip into a false sense of security. 

“The real thing we have to be focused on is not to be complacent, to be smart, to lean into things where we can, but with a recognition that we are on a very fine line with this virus that can come very very quickly,” Walz said.

As of April 30, there are 5,136 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota with 343 deaths, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.