A Minnesota panel on Wednesday, April 14, approved another 30-day extension of the state's peacetime emergency, citing concerns about another surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
The continuation puts the state into a 14th month of the emergency due to COVID-19, and health officials said the flexibility is critical as they attempt to respond to the growing presence of coronavirus variants in the state. The Minnesota Executive Council unanimously granted the extension, which gives the governor broad authority to issue executive orders without legislative approval.
And while Gov. Tim Walz has previously used the powers to mandate masks, limit business capacity and social gatherings, the first-term Democrat on Tuesday, April 13, told reporters that he didn't plan to put in place another round of restraints.