Gov. Tim Walz announced Dec. 16 he will lessen COVID-19 restrictions on bars, gyms and youth sports but will extend restrictions to Jan. 11, meaning indoor dining is not permitted but outdoor services are allowed.

With COVID-19 still on the rise, it seems to be the best idea to keep any and all restrictions in order, but for the sake of people’s mental health, lessening restrictions would be very beneficial. 

Minnesota is not ready to open up completely, but with everyone being in lockdown for nearly a year and its effect on mental health, COVID-19 restrictions should be loosened. 

From mid-March to early December, according to the Mayo Clinic, people have experienced symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression and have even increased bad habits to try to help cope. This is due to the lockdown and the fear and stress of COVID-19. With fewer restrictions implemented, people are able to go out and interact more with the world to help with their mental health.

There are numerous people that go out to places as an outlet because their homes may be toxic for them. Having the ability to go to and do things people enjoy could ultimately change the circumstances people are in.

Another valid reason for a lessening on COVID-19 restrictions would be for people to have a place to be when being at home becomes too much. Lots of teens and parents can struggle with staying home all the time. When they’re struggling, they need to have an outlet to feel some sort of peace so they aren’t in a constant state of stress or depression.

The loosened restrictions also affect will businesses. Since the updated restrictions allow for some venues to open up at 25% or 100 people maximum, this can help with not only preventing cases from increasing but can help businesses out of hiatus.

Although this decision will cause an overall positive impact, it’s best to remember we are still in the midst of a pandemic and have safety guidelines to follow. As we slowly transition back to normal, we still need to acknowledge that we are dealing with a deadly pandemic and need to deal with it properly.