BREAKING-Gov. Walz orders Minnesota to stay home 2 weeks to slow COVID-19

Gov. Tim Walz has ordered Minnesota residents to stay at home for two weeks to slow the spread of the coronavirus and prevent it from overwhelming the state’s health care system.

The governor’s “stay at home” order begins at midnight Friday. He says the restrictions are critical to buy time to build up the state’s capacity to handle a flood of infections.

People will still be allowed to go to grocery stores and their doctors and buy gasoline. But the governor extended his order closing bars and restaurants to May 1. Schools will implement distance learning beginning Monday.