MARSHALL — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s face could be seen on every TV inside Fuzzy’s Bar on Main Street.

While the bar was full of customers, it was very quiet as they watched Walz announce the temporary closure of restaurants, bars and other places of public amusement starting today at 5 p.m. until 5 p.m. March 27.

“It’s going to put it (his business) in turmoil,” owner Dan Fosvick said.

Across the street, The Gambler owner Tom Pearcy was also watching the television coverage of the governor’s executive order.

“I feel bad for my customers,” he said.

Both Marshall business owners said they understand why Walz made the decision.

The order also affects theaters, museums, fitness centers and community clubs. Lyon County Museum Executive Director Jennifer Andries said Monday evening that the museum is now closed until further notice.

Meanwhile, delivery and curbside takeout services are permitted.

“As the cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota continue to climb, we must take decisive action to curb the spread of this pandemic and protect the health and safety of Minnesotans,” Walz said. “This is a challenging time for business owners, employees, children and families alike. We must come together as One Minnesota to care for our neighbors and slow the spread of COVID-19.”

“Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic requires us to make tough decisions, and we know that many families will be impacted by these closings,” said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said. “That’s why we are making it easier for employees who are unable to work as a result of COVID-19 to receive unemployment benefits quickly and continue to support themselves and their families.”

Walz also signed an executive order that will strengthen Minnesota’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and ensure that workers who are not able to work as a result of COVID-19 have benefits available. According to the governor’s press release, the order will waive the employer surcharge and allow the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to pay unemployment benefits immediately, providing fast relief to employees who need it.

Pearcy said he sent out an application to his 16 employees where they can sign up for unemployment.

“It affects us, the employees, the beer guys, the food guys … right down the line,” Pearcy said.

Fosvick said the majority of his employees have other full-time jobs and should be OK. One employee, however, only works at Fuzzy’s.

“I have things she can do, but if I can’t make any money and I run out of money, I can’t pay her. So that’s what scares me,” he said.

“We understand the hardships these closings place on Minnesota’s workforce, and that’s why we’re focused on supporting workers and businesses who may have to temporarily close their doors,” DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said. “We’ve strengthened the state’s unemployment insurance program to expedite an increase in applicants looking for support, and we’ll stand by employers who may need new resources in this evolving economic climate.”

“Slowing the spread of COVID-19 is very important, and we continue to update our guidance as more information comes in,” MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. “With Minnesota now having confirmed 54 cases of COVID-19 and three cases associated with community spread, we need to take these temporary actions to flatten the outbreak curve, so we can avoid stretching our health care system too much.”

After Walz’s address, some Marshall restaurant owners said they anticipated the order.

“We weren’t surprised and were waiting for it,” Mariachi’s Mexican restaurant owner Margarita Garcia said. “I agree 100% with the decision and we will follow whatever steps we need to do because our customers are so important for us, especially to stop the coronavirus that is so important. We are doing all of the procedures and I think we’re fine.”

Garcia said the restaurant will continue to accept take-home orders.

“We all knew it was coming so we just had to anticipate what the governor would say. Now it’s there and we just have to adjust and accept it,” Wooden Nickel manager Tim Clausen said. “Business-wise, we need to contain the spread of the virus so we are making the changes to takeout only and our hours will be determined in an announcement today.”

Clausen said the restaurant will take orders over the phone and will be setting up a table inside the restaurant for customers to pick up to-go orders without any contact between staff and customers.

“At this time, there is nothing really we can do to help us stay afloat because anyone with these guidelines in place can’t do anything to make things more profitable. With the economy, we were already anticipating some sort of recession, but we’re sitting stable to handle this and be there for our customers,” he said.

Mike’s Cafe will also offer takeout/delivery options.

“If people are struggling with meals while they stay at home, or just want a break from the day-to-day grind, they can come and pick up a meal,” Kitchen Manager Mike Hoekman said. “We will have a limited menu for our delivery, but a full menu for takeout and will have a limited number of staff to help cook and take the calls. We will offer delivery city-wide within city limits and have our appetizers, burgers, breakfast and some dinners available. We just want to provide our hospitality for the people at this time.”

Hoeckman said the cafe will keep some staff to cook and take the calls.

“There will be no layoffs or letting people go,” he said. “We will give them links to obtain unemployment insurance, but it will be a skeleton basis with only some hours for people,”

In St. Paul, top House and Senate leaders kept their distances from each other and reporters at a news conference, where they said they would hold committee meetings and floor sessions on an on-call basis only through April 14. When they do meet to pass time-sensitive, essential legislation, they’ll only use spaces that allow six feet of distance between people. But constituents can still reach their lawmakers by phone and email and set up meetings. “This is uncharted territory,” Republican House Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said. A bill to provide around $100 million in funding to hospitals to help them prepare, was still being negotiated and details weren’t immediately available, but the leaders said they hoped to pass it Monday. Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman said she “wouldn’t be surprised” if lawmakers come back to extend the state income tax filing deadline past April 15, as the federal government plans to do. “This is a time that is unlike any that we’ve experienced, except for maybe 9/11,” Hortman said. During the hiatus, Hortman said, lawmakers will focus on bills related to COVID-19, “mission critical” legislation such as a public works borrowing bill, and proposals that have broad bipartisan support.

“Daily operations are going to be different at this time and the most important thing we can do is to take advantage of today’s technology to remain in constant communication,” said Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent. “Constituent outreach remains a priority for us in the Legislature, and we encourage citizens to continue using us as resources. Also, it is crucial that we seek trusted online sources as we obtain new information regarding this outbreak so that we can best manage this issue together.”