Minnesota's largest business groups are giving broad support to Gov. Tim Walz's stay-at-home executive order, calling it a measured approach that keeps key industries functioning while curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
At the same time, they want government leaders to remain flexible on the definition of "essential" business because needs may change in coming weeks. In announcing the stay-at-home order Wednesday afternoon, Walz urged more businesses to close but gave exemptions to many.
"Anytime you create an exhaustive list like this there's going to be pieces of the business supply chain that will not be recognized and should have been considered," Minnesota Chamber of Commerce President Doug Loon said.
Walz's two-week "stay-at-home" order begins at 11:59 p.m. Friday. It asks Minnesotans to stay in their homes unless absolutely necessary, after models suggest that the state will run out of hospital intensive-care capacity before infection rates of the coronavirus peak.
Only businesses working in critical sectors will be able to remain open, but the definition is fairly broad. It includes health care workers, emergency responders, law enforcement, shelters and child care as well as construction, food production, utilities, the news media and critical manufacturing.
About 78% of jobs in the state fall into one of the critical industries, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
"Leading up to this there was a great deal of uncertainty about what would be included in the definition of essential services of what would be included," Loon said. "This brings a level of certainty about short-term impacts on the economy."
Charlie Weaver, who leads the Minnesota Business Partnership, an association of top executives, said in a statement that the order "allows our state to effectively confront this public health threat while ensuring key sectors of our economy continue to function."