Photo by Deb Gau Starting Friday night, bar seating and games like pool won’t be allowed in Minnesota bars and restaurants, in an attempt to cut down on the spread of COVID-19. Dan Fosvick, owner of Fuzzy’s bar in Marshall, said going without bar seating would be difficult, “But it’s better than not being open at all.”

MARSHALL — COVID-19 cases are surging in Minnesota, and state health officials say a lot of the spread is coming from social gatherings, especially groups of young people late at night. Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday that it’s time to “dial back” coronavirus precautions — but once again, some of the new restrictions are hitting restaurants and bars.

Owners and managers of bars in Marshall said new rules like tighter limits on capacity and closing for in-person service after 10 p.m. will impact their business. Customers like college students tend to come in later at night, said Shauna Bjorklund, manager at the Gambler in Marshall.

“The biggest thing is going to be not being able to seat people at the bar,” said Dan Fosvick, owner of Fuzzy’s bar in Marshall.

In a Tuesday press conference, Walz announced several new restrictions ,which he said were targeted toward slowing the spread of COVID-19.

“We’ve turned our dials. We’re going to have to turn them back a little again today,” Walz said.

The restrictions that take effect at 10 p.m. Friday include limiting bar and restaurant capacity to 150 people, and requiring bars and restaurants to end dine-in service at 10 p.m., although deliveries and takeout will still be allowed. Starting Friday, social gatherings are also being limited to 10 people or fewer, from three or fewer households.

Finally, Walz said Minnesota will be taking a phased approach to limiting the number of people at receptions for events like weddings or funerals. Starting Dec. 11, reception-style events will be limited to 25 people. However, the restrictions will not apply to wedding or funeral ceremonies themselves.

Walz said Minnesota Department of Health data from June through November shows that while big gatherings carry a risk of spreading COVID-19, 71% of recent outbreaks are coming from smaller social and family gatherings, or settings where people are eating and drinking together over time.

“It’s not being caused by one or two big events,” he said. The majority of new cases are also younger adults, especially people between the ages of 20 and 34.

At the same time that new restrictions are coming for bars and restaurants, retail stores are getting back to normal business. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development said retail stores may now operate at 100% capacity, said Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce president Brad Gruhot.

“It’s certainly not our intention to demonize any industry,” Walz said of the new restrictions on bars and restaurants. Tuesday’s announcement came along with a proposal to make $10 million available in relief grants to small businesses. Walz said the new restrictions are geared toward limiting the spread of COVID-19 through social activities, especially by people age 18-35.

While some area restaurants are already closed by 10 p.m., bars will definitely be impacted by the new rules.

“It’s going to be quite a hit. Especially on weekends, the majority of our business comes in after 10 o’clock,” Fosvick said. Not being able to seat people at the bar or have people playing pool would also be difficult. He said he hoped to be able to still serve his regular customers, however.

The new restrictions would limit business, but bar owners and managers said there wasn’t a lot they could do.

“It’s going to be an adjustment,” Fosvick said. “But it’s better than not being open at all.”

“We’re going to do our best to put the restrictions in place,” Bjorklund said. It will be important for people to try and support their local businesses in the meantime, she said. “Hopefully, it’s all over soon.”

Numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Minnesota. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Department of Health reported 4,906 new positive cases, and 23 deaths. A total of 2,698 Minnesotans have died since the start of the pandemic, Walz said. COVID-19 cases have been rising sharply on the local level as well — the new cases reported Tuesday included 42 Lyon County residents.

“We are in the midst of a significant surge in coronavirus cases,” Walz said. The danger was that exponential growth of cases would continue, and overwhelm hospitals and health care workers.

Hospitals in some regions of Minnesota have over 90% of their critical care beds filled, Walz said. In southwest Minnesota, 57% of critical care beds were in use. As more health care workers get COVID-19, there’s also a risk of personnel shortages at hospitals and care facilities, Walz said.