Who can return to work under Minnesota's revised stay-at-home order?

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced an extension of the stay-at-home order Wednesday, April 8, with new exemptions for certain industries. The extended order will go through May 4. The statewide bar, restaurant and school closures are matched up to the stay-at-home extension, so they will all remain closed until May 4.

While most Minnesotans are asked to stay at home, workers or volunteers in critical sectors who are performing work that cannot be done at their home or residence are exempted and permitted to return to their jobs.

Loading Video…

This browser does not support the Video element.

Gov. Walz extends Minnesota’s stay-at-home order to May 4, includes exemptions

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz extended his stay-at-home order through May 4, forcing thousands of businesses to remain closed for three additional weeks as state health officials warned that the peak of the coronavirus pandemic was soon to hit.

Out of a job? These companies are currently hiring

Some industries such as landscaping and lawn care are now exempt. Additionally, craft stores may remain open only to sell supplies that can be used for making Personal Protective Equipment such as fabric face masks. Those materials must be purchased prior to pick-up electronically or by phone and must be pre-packaged by the manufacturer, distributor, or the store.

Under the revised order, the following exempted workers can return to work on April 9:

MINIMUM BASIC OPERATIONS

  • Workers supporting minimum basic operations in all businesses and other organizations. Minimum basic operations include: Minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’ inventory, preserve the condition of a business’s or other organization’s facilities, physical plant, or equipment, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions; and Minimum necessary activities to facilitate remote work by workers from their residences (e.g. IT personnel who allow employees to operate remotely and personnel who support remote or distance learning)
  • Minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’ inventory, preserve the condition of a business’s or other organization’s facilities, physical plant, or equipment, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions; and
  • Minimum necessary activities to facilitate remote work by workers from their residences (e.g. IT personnel who allow employees to operate remotely and personnel who support remote or distance learning)

HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

  • Workers who perform critical clinical research, development, and testing needed for COVID-19 response
  • Healthcare providers and Caregivers including physicians, dentists, psychologists, mid-level practitioners, nurses and assistants, infection control and quality assurance personnel, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists and assistants, social workers, optometrists, speech pathologists, chiropractors, and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and technologists)
  • Hospital and laboratory personnel (including accounting, administrative, admitting and discharge, engineering, epidemiological, source plasma and blood donation, food service, housekeeping, medical records, information technology and operational technology, nutritionists, sanitarians, respiratory therapists, etc.)
  • Workers in other medical facilities (including Ambulatory Health and Surgical, Blood Banks, Clinics, Community Mental Health, Comprehensive Outpatient rehabilitation, End Stage Renal Disease, Health Departments, Home Health care, Hospices, Hospitals, Long Term Care, Nursing Care Facilities, Organ Pharmacies, Procurement Organizations, Psychiatric Residential, Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers, and retail facilities specializing in medical goods and supplies)
  • Manufacturer workers for health manufacturing (including biotechnology companies), materials and parts suppliers, logistics and warehouse operators, distributors of medical equipment (including those who test and repair), personal protective equipment (PPE), isolation barriers, medical gases, pharmaceuticals (including materials used in radioactive drugs), dietary supplements, blood and blood products, vaccines, testing materials, laboratory supplies, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting or sterilization supplies, and tissue and paper towel products • Public health / community health workers, including those who compile, model, analyze and communicate public health information • Blood and plasma donors and the employees of the organizations that operate and manage related activities • Workers that manage health plans, billing, and health information, who cannot practically work remotely
  • Workers who conduct community-based public health functions, conducting epidemiologic surveillance, compiling, analyzing and communicating public health information, who cannot practically work remotely
  • Workers performing information technology and cybersecurity functions at healthcare and public health facilities, who cannot practically work remotely
  • Workers performing security, incident management, and emergency operations functions at or on behalf of healthcare entities including healthcare coalitions, who cannot practically work remotely
  • Pharmacy employees necessary to maintain uninterrupted prescription filling
  • Workers performing mortuary, funeral, cremation, burial, cemetery, and related services, including funeral homes, crematoriums, cemetery workers, and coffin makers
  • Workers who coordinate with other organizations to ensure the proper recovery, handling, identification, transportation, tracking, storage, and disposal of human remains and personal effects; certify cause of death; and facilitate access to mental/behavioral health services to the family members, responders, and survivors of an incident
  • Workers providing or supporting reproductive health care, childbirth services, mental health care, and substance use treatment
  • Workers supporting manufacturers, technicians, logistics and warehouse operators, and distributors of personal care, hygiene, and healthcare products
  • Workers providing or supporting home care and human services workers from government or non-profit providers who are delivering food, prescriptions, case management services, mental health and substance abuse therapy, or who are otherwise caring for a client
  • Workers providing or supporting home-based care for adults, seniors, and children, including but not limited to people who are blind, deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing and people with disabilities, including physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders, or mental illness.
  • Workers who must travel to a person’s home to provide care or other in-home services including meal delivery and one-on-one interpreting services for people who are blind, deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing.
  • Personal care attendants, paid employees of government and non-profit providers, or volunteers representing government and non-profit providers • Workers supporting the medical cannabis industry
  • Workers in adult daycares are not exempted
  • Note: as applicable, such healthcare and public health workers are subject to the restrictions on elective surgeries and procedures as set forth in Executive Orders 20-09 and 20-17

LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND FIRST RESPONDERS

  • Public, private, and voluntary personnel (front line and management) in emergency management, law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, and private security, to include public and private hazardous material responders, air medical service providers (pilots and supporting technicians), corrections, and search and rescue personnel
  • 911 call center employees and Public Safety Answering Points who can’t perform their duties remotely
  • Fusion Center employees
  • Workers – including contracted vendors -- who maintain, manufacture, or supply equipment and services supporting law enforcement emergency service and response operations (to include electronic security and life safety security personnel)
  • Workers supporting the manufacturing of safety equipment and uniforms for law enforcement, public safety personnel, and first responders
  • Public agency workers responding to abuse and neglect of children, elders, and dependent adults
  • Workers who support weather disaster / natural hazard mitigation and prevention activities
  • Security staff to maintain building access control and physical security measures
  • All corrections personnel
  • State and county probation officers and supervision agents
  • Victims’ advocates, animal control officers, humane officers, and all workers who support electronic security and life-safety services
  • Bail bond agents posting a bond

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

  • Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies, convenience stores and other retail (including unattended and vending) that sells human food, animal/pet food and pet supply, and beverage products (including alcoholic beverages), including retail customer support service and information technology support staff necessary for online orders, pickup and delivery
  • Restaurant carry-out and quick serve food operations, including dark kitchen and food prep centers, and carryout and delivery food employees
  • Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those employed in food ingredient production and processing (packers, meat processing, cheese plants, milk plants, produce, etc.) facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production facilities; and the production of food packaging
  • Farmers, farm workers, and agribusiness support services to include those employed in auction and sales: grain and oilseed handling, processing and distribution; animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically and for export
  • Farmers, farm workers, support service workers, and their supplier employees to include those engaged in producing and harvesting field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; biodiesel and renewable diesel facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs
  • Employees and firms supporting the distribution of food, feed, and beverage and ingredients used in these products, including warehouse workers, vendor-managed inventory controllers and blockchain managers
  • Workers supporting the sanitation and pest control of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail
  • Employees in cafeterias used to feed employees, particularly employee populations sheltered against COVID-19
  • Workers in animal diagnostic and food testing laboratories in private industries and in institutions of higher education
  • Government, private, and non-governmental organizations workers’ essential for assistance programs (including school lunch programs) and government payments
  • Employees of companies engaged in the production, storage, transport, and distribution of chemicals, medicines, vaccines, and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including seeds, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids • Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health (including those involved in supporting emergency veterinary or livestock services); raising of animals for food; animal production operations; livestock markets; slaughter and packing plants, manufacturers, renderers, and associated regulatory and government workforce
  • Transportation supporting agricultural industries, including movement of animal medical and reproductive supplies and materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, live animals, animal by-products; and deceased animals for disposal;
  • Workers who support sawmills and the manufacture and distribution of fiber and forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood and fiber products
  • Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary to agricultural production and distribution
  • Workers essential to the food supply chain, including those supporting groceries, pharmacies, and other retail that sells food and beverage products, including but not limited to grocery stores, corner stores and convenience stores, including liquor stores that sell food, farmers’ markets, food banks, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, similar food retail establishments, big box stores that sell groceries and essentials
  • Workers supporting agricultural equipment repair services
  • Lawncare and landscaping workers
  • Workers supporting garden centers or stores, provided that such centers or stores adhere to guidance provided by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
  • Workers supporting florists for the sale for delivery only of perishable plant stock. Workers delivering perishable plant stock are strongly encouraged to drop off product at the front door of nursing homes and hospitals to avoid contact with vulnerable populations.
  • This category does not include following workers, who are not exempt: Workers supporting tobacco and vaping-product shops Workers supporting cannabidiol (CBD) oil shops  
  • Workers supporting tobacco and vaping-product shops
  • Workers supporting cannabidiol (CBD) oil shops  

ENERGY

  • Workers supporting the energy sector, regardless of the energy source (including but not limited to nuclear, fossil, hydroelectric, or renewable), segment of the system, or infrastructure the worker is involved in, or who are needed to monitor, operate, engineer, and maintain the reliability, safety, environmental health, and physical and cyber security of the energy system
  • Energy/commodity trading/scheduling/marketing functions, who can’t perform their duties remotely
  • IT and OT technology for essential energy sector operations including support workers, customer service operations; energy management systems, control systems, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition SCADA systems, and energy sector entity data centers; cybersecurity engineers; and cybersecurity risk management
  • Workers supporting the energy sector through renewable energy infrastructure (including, but not limited to wind, solar, biomass, hydrogen, ocean, geothermal, and/or hydroelectric), including those supporting construction, manufacturing, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, monitoring, and logistics
  • Workers and security staff involved in nuclear re-fueling operations
  • Providing services related to energy sector fuels (including, but not limited to, petroleum (crude oil), natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, other liquid fuels, nuclear, and coal), supporting the mining, processing, manufacturing, construction, logistics, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, security, waste disposal and storage, and monitoring of support for resources
  • Environmental remediation/monitoring, limited to immediate critical needs technicians
  • Manufacturing and distribution of equipment, supplies, and parts necessary to maintain production, maintenance, restoration, and service at energy sector facilities (across all energy sector segments)
  • Workers supporting emergency response operations Electricity industry:
  • Workers who maintain, ensure, or restore, or are involved in the development, transportation, fuel procurement, expansion, or operation of the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power, including call centers, utility workers, engineers, retail electricity, constraint maintenance, and fleet maintenance technicians – who cannot perform their duties remotely
  • Workers at coal mines, production facilities, and those involved in manufacturing, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance and monitoring at coal sites which is critical to ensuring the reliability of the electrical system • Workers who produce, process, ship and handle coal used for power generation and manufacturing
  • Workers needed for safe and secure operations at nuclear generation to include but not limited to, the broader nuclear supply chain, parts to maintain nuclear equipment, fuel manufacturers and fuel companies used in the manufacturing of fuel
  • Workers at renewable energy infrastructure (including, but not limited to wind, solar, biomass, hydrogen, geothermal, and/or hydroelectric), including those supporting construction, manufacturing, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, monitoring, and logistics
  • Workers at generation, transmission and electric black start facilities
  • Workers at Reliability Coordinator (RC), Balancing Authorities (BA), and primary and backup Control Centers (CC), including but not limited to independent system operators, regional transmission organizations, and local distribution control centers
  • Mutual assistance personnel which may include workers from outside of the state or local jurisdiction
  • Vegetation management crews and traffic control for supporting those crews
  • Environmental remediation/monitoring workers limited to immediate critical needs technicians
  • Instrumentation, protection, and control technicians
  • Essential support for electricity operations
  • Generator set support workers such as diesel engineers used in power generation including those providing fuel Petroleum industry:
  • Workers for onshore and offshore petroleum drilling operations; platform and drilling construction and maintenance; transportation (including helicopter operations), maritime transportation, supply, and dredging operations; maritime navigation; well stimulation, intervention, monitoring, automation and control, extraction, production; processing; waste disposal, and maintenance, construction, and operations
  • Workers for crude oil, petroleum and petroleum product storage and transportation, including, pipeline, marine transport, terminals, rail transport, storage facilities and racks and road transport for use as end-use fuels such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and heating fuels or feedstocks for chemical manufacturing
  • Petroleum and petroleum product security operations center employees and workers who support maintenance emergency response services
  • Petroleum and petroleum product operations control rooms/centers and refinery facilities
  • Retail fuel centers such as gas stations and truck stops, and the distribution systems that support them
  • Supporting new and existing construction projects, including, but not limited to, pipeline construction Natural Gas, Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Propane, and other liquid fuels:
  • Workers who support onshore and offshore drilling operations, platform drilling construction and maintenance; transportation (including helicopter operations); maritime transportation, supply, and dredging operations; maritime navigation; natural gas and natural gas liquid production, processing, extraction, storage and transportation; well intervention, monitoring, automation and control; waste disposal, and maintenance, construction, and operations
  • Transmission and distribution pipeline workers, including compressor stations and any other required, operations maintenance, construction, and support for natural gas, natural gas liquid, propane, and other liquid fuels
  • Natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel processing plants, including construction, maintenance and support operations • Natural gas processing plants workers, and those that deal with natural gas liquids
  • Workers who staff natural gas, propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel security operations centers, operations dispatch and control rooms/centers, and emergency response and customer emergencies (including leak calls) operations
  • Drilling, production, processing, refining, and transporting natural gas for use as end-use fuels, feedstocks for chemical manufacturing, or use in electricity generation
  • Dispatch and control rooms and emergency response and customer emergencies, including propane leak calls
  • Propane gas service maintenance and restoration, including call centers
  • Propane, natural gas liquids, and other liquid fuel distribution centers
  • Propane gas storage, transmission, and distribution centers 
  • Supporting new and existing construction projects, including, but not limited to, pipeline construction
  • Ethanol and biofuel production, refining and distribution
  • Workers in fuel sectors (including, but not limited to nuclear, coal, and gas types and liquid fuels) supporting the mining, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, permitting, operation/maintenance, and monitoring of support for resources
  • Underground storage of natural gas

WATER AND WASTEWATER

  • Employees needed to operate and maintain drinking water and wastewater/drainage infrastructure, including: Operational staff at water authorities o Operational staff at community water systems Operational staff at wastewater treatment facilities Workers repairing water and wastewater conveyances and performing required sampling or monitoring, including field staff Operational staff for water distribution and testing Operational staff at wastewater collection facilities Operational staff and technical support for SCADA Control systems Chemical and equipment suppliers to water and wastewater and personnel protection Workers that maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting water and wastewater operations
  • Operational staff at water authorities o Operational staff at community water systems
  • Operational staff at wastewater treatment facilities
  • Workers repairing water and wastewater conveyances and performing required sampling or monitoring, including field staff
  • Operational staff for water distribution and testing
  • Operational staff at wastewater collection facilities
  • Operational staff and technical support for SCADA Control systems
  • Chemical and equipment suppliers to water and wastewater and personnel protection
  • Workers that maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting water and wastewater operations
  • Workers at State Parks who maintain water and wastewater infrastructure
  • Workers whose duties relate to residential wells and septic tanks
  • Workers who supply bottled water or home filtration systems in areas where that is a health necessity

TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS

  • Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, including truck drivers, bus drivers, dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians, warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) employees, towing/recovery services, roadside assistance workers, intermodal transportation personnel, and workers that maintain and inspect infrastructure (including those that require cross-jurisdiction travel)
  • Workers supporting the distribution of food, pharmaceuticals (including materials used in radioactive drugs) and other medical materials, fuels, chemical needed for water or water treatment and energy
  • Workers supporting maintenance and operation of essential highway infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and tunnels (e.g. traffic operations centers and moveable bridge operators)
  • Employees of firms providing services, supplies, and equipment that enable warehouse and operations, including cooling, storing, packaging, and distributing products for wholesale or retail sale or use. Includes coldand frozen-chain logistics for food and critical biologic products
  • Mass transit workers and providing critical transit services and/or performing critical or routine maintenance to mass transit infrastructure or equipment
  • Employees supporting personal and commercial transportation services – including taxis, delivery services, vehicle rental services, bicycle maintenance and car-sharing services, and transportation network providers
  • Workers responsible for operating dispatching passenger, commuter and freight trains and maintaining rail infrastructure and equipment
  • Maritime transportation workers, including dredgers, port workers, mariners, ship crewmembers, ship pilots and tug boat operators, equipment operators (to include maintenance and repair, and maritime-specific medical providers), ship supply, chandler, and repair companies
  • Workers including truck drivers, railroad employees and contractors, maintenance crew, and cleaners supporting transportation of chemicals, hazardous, medical, and waste materials to support critical infrastructure, capabilities, functions, and services, including specialized carriers, crane and rigging industry workers
  • Automotive repair, maintenance and transportation equipment manufacturing and distribution facilities (including those who repair and maintain electric vehicle charging stations)
  • Transportation safety inspectors, including hazardous material inspectors and accident investigator inspectors
  • Manufacturers and distributors (to include service centers and related operations) of packaging materials, pallets, crates, containers, and other supplies needed to support manufacturing, packaging staging and distribution operations
  • Postal, parcel, courier, last-mile delivery, and shipping and related workers, to include private companies
  • Employees who repair and maintain vehicles, aircraft, rail equipment, marine vessels, bicycles, and the equipment and infrastructure that enables operations that encompass movement of cargo and passengers
  • Air transportation employees, including air traffic controllers and maintenance personnel, ramp workers, aviation and aerospace safety, security, and operations personnel and accident investigations
  • Workers who support the operation, distribution, maintenance, and sanitation, of air transportation for cargo and passengers, including flight crews, maintenance, airport operations, those responsible for cleaning and disinfection, and other on- and off- airport facilities workers
  • Workers supporting transportation via inland waterways such as barge crew, dredging, river port workers for essential goods
  • Workers critical to rental and leasing of vehicles and equipment that facilitate continuity of operations for essential workforces and other essential travel
  • Warehouse operators, including vendors and support personnel critical for business continuity (including HVAC & electrical engineers; security personnel; and janitorial staff) and customer service for essential functions.
  • State, county, and local government agencies and agency workers, as well as private sector workers, who support or enable transportation functions, including engineers, dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians (including workers at maintenance and repair shops), warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, and workers that maintain and inspect infrastructure (including those that require cross-border travel)
  • Workers engaged in roadway construction, maintenance, and utility projects
  • Public transit workers
  • Bicycle shops and distribution facilities
  • Automobile, motorcycle, recreational vehicle (RV), and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) sales that are necessary to allow for essential travel or support Critical Sectors, when conducted by appointment, and only when CDC and MDH guidelines, including social distancing, can be met
  • Workers who clean vehicles used for public transportation, government services, and Critical Sectors

PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SERVICES

  • Workers who support the operation, inspection, and maintenance of essential dams, locks and levees
  • Workers who support the operation, inspection, and maintenance of essential public works facilities and operations, including bridges, water and sewer main breaks, fleet maintenance personnel, construction of critical or strategic infrastructure, traffic signal maintenance, emergency location services for buried utilities, maintenance of digital systems infrastructure supporting public works operations, and other emergent issues
  • Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, builders, contractors, HVAC technicians, landscapers, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, businesses and buildings such as hospitals, senior living facilities, and any temporary construction required to support COVID-19 response
  • Workers who support, such as road and line clearing, to ensure the availability of and access to needed facilities, transportation, energy and communications
  • Support to ensure the effective removal, storage, and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste and hazardous waste, including landfill operations
  • Workers who support the inspection and maintenance of aids to navigation, and other government provided services that ensure continued maritime commerce
  • Construction material suppliers and workers providing services necessary to maintain construction material sources

COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Communications:

  • Maintenance of communications infrastructure- including privately owned and maintained communication systems- supported by technicians, operators, call-centers, wireline and wireless providers, cable service providers, satellite operations, Internet Exchange Points, Points of Presence, Network Access Points, back haul and front haul facilities, and manufacturers and distributors of communications equipment
  • Government and private sector employees (including government contractors) with work related to undersea cable infrastructure and support facilities, including cable landing sites, beach manhole vaults and covers, submarine cable depots and submarine cable ship facilities
  • Government and private sector employees (including government contractors) supporting Department of Defense internet and communications facilities
  • Workers who support radio, television, and media service, including, but not limited to front line news reporters, studio, and technicians for newsgathering and reporting, and publishing news
  • Network Operations staff, engineers and/or technicians to include IT managers and staff, HVAC & electrical engineers, security personnel, software and hardware engineers, and database administrators that manage the network or operate facilities
  • Engineers, technicians and associated personnel responsible for infrastructure construction and restoration, including contractors for construction and engineering of fiber optic cables, buried conduit, small cells, other wireless facilities, and other communications sector-related infrastructure. This includes construction of new facilities and deployment of new technology as these are required to address congestion or customer usage due to unprecedented use of remote services
  • Installation, maintenance and repair technicians that establish, support or repair service as needed
  • Central office personnel to maintain and operate central office, data centers, and other network office facilities, critical support personnel assisting front line employees
  • Customer service and support staff, including managed and professional services as well as remote providers of support to transitioning employees to set up and maintain home offices, who interface with customers to manage or support service environments and security issues, including payroll, billing, fraud, logistics and troubleshooting
  • Workers providing electronic security, fire, monitoring and life safety services, and to ensure physical security, cleanliness and safety of facilities and personnel, including temporary licensing waivers for security personnel to work in other states or municipalities
  • Dispatchers involved with service repair and restoration
  • Retail customer service personnel at critical service center locations for onboarding customers, distributing and repairing equipment and addressing customer issues in order to support individuals’ remote emergency communications needs, supply chain and logistics personnel to ensure goods and products are on-boarded to provision these front-line employees
  • External Affairs personnel to assist in coordinating with local, state, and federal officials to address communications needs supporting COVID-19 response, public safety, and national security

Information Technology:

  • Workers who support command centers, including, but not limited to Network Operations Command Centers, Broadcast Operations Control Centers and Security Operations Command Centers
  • Data center operators, including system administrators, HVAC & electrical engineers, security personnel, IT managers and purchasers, data transfer solutions engineers, software and hardware engineers, and database administrators, for all industries (including financial services)
  • Workers who support client service centers, field engineers, and other technicians and workers supporting critical infrastructure, as well as manufacturers and supply chain vendors that provide hardware and software, support services, research and development, and information technology equipment (to include microelectronics and semiconductors), and HVAC and electrical equipment for critical infrastructure, and test labs and certification agencies that qualify such equipment (to include microelectronics, optoelectronics, and semiconductors) for critical infrastructure, including data centers
  • Workers needed to preempt and respond to cyber incidents involving critical infrastructure, including medical facilities, SLTT governments and federal facilities, energy and utilities, and banks and financial institutions, securities/other exchanges, food & agricultural production, transportation, and other critical infrastructure categories and personnel, in addition to all cyber defense workers (who can’t perform their duties remotely)
  • Suppliers, designers, transporters and other workers supporting the manufacture, distribution and provision and construction of essential global, national and local infrastructure for computing services (including cloud computing services and telework capabilities), business infrastructure, financial transactions/services, webbased services, and critical manufacturing
  • Workers supporting communications systems and information technology – and work from home solutions - used by law enforcement, public safety, medical, energy, public works, critical manufacturing, food & agricultural production, financial services, education, and other critical industries and businesses
  • Employees required in person to support Software as a Service businesses that enable remote working, performance of business operations, distance learning, media services, and digital health offerings, or required for technical support crucial for business continuity and connectivity
  • All workers who support news services of all kinds, including newspapers, radio, television, and other forms of news media

OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Workers to ensure continuity of building functions, including but not limited to security and environmental controls (e.g. HVAC), the manufacturing and distribution of the products required for these functions, and the permits and inspections for construction supporting essential infrastructure
  • Elections personnel to include both public and private sector elections support
  • Workers supporting the operations of the judicial system
  • Federal, State, and Local, Tribal, and Territorial employees who support Mission Essential Functions and communications networks
  • Trade Officials (FTA negotiators; international data flow administrators)
  • Employees necessary to maintain news and media operations across various media
  • Employees supporting Census 2020
  • Weather forecasters
  • Clergy for essential support
  • Workers that maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting other critical government operations
  • Workers who support necessary credentialing, vetting and licensing operations for transportation workers
  • Customs and immigration workers who are critical to facilitating trade in support of the national emergency response supply chain
  • Educators supporting public and private K-12 schools, colleges, and universities for purposes of facilitating distance learning or performing other essential functions, if operating under rules for social distancing
  • Staff at government offices who support title search notary, and recording services in support of mortgage and real estate services and transactions • Residential and commercial real estate services, including settlement services
  • Workers supporting essential maintenance, manufacturing, design, operation, inspection, security, and construction for essential products, services, and supply chain and COVID-19 relief efforts
  • Hotel workers where hotels are used for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures
  • Security staff to maintain building access control and physical security measures
  • Election support services and election administration workers
  • Housing, shelter, and homelessness-prevention staff of state and local agencies and organizations responsible for ensuring safe and stable housing, including workers from state and local agencies and organizations with responsibility for ensuring safe and stable housing; shelter outreach or drop-in center programs; financing affordable housing; and administering rent subsidies, homeless interventions, operating supports, and similar supports.
  • Workers necessary to provide repairs, maintenance, and operations support to residential dwellings
  • Workers performing all other governmental functions which are necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the public, to preserve the essential elements of the financial system of government, and to continue priority services as determined by a political subdivision of the State. All political subdivisions of the State will determine the minimum personnel necessary to maintain these governmental operations
  • Workers supporting building code enforcement necessary to maintain public safety and health
  • Workers supporting building code enforcement for all ongoing construction
  • Workers, including logistical and contract workers, who are critical to facilitating support of national, state, and local emergency response operations
  • Workers necessary to process applications for and issue hunting and fishing licenses, where it is impracticable for applicants to apply online

CRITICAL MANUFACTURING

  • Workers necessary for the manufacturing of metals (including steel and aluminum), industrial minerals, semiconductors, materials and products needed for medical supply chains, and for supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, information technology, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, wood products, commodities used as fuel for power generation facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, processing and reprocessing of solid waste, emergency services, and the defense industrial base. Additionally, workers needed to maintain the continuity of these manufacturing functions and associated supply chains, and workers necessary to maintain a manufacturing operation in warm standby
  • Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed to manufacture medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Workers necessary for mining and production of critical minerals, materials and associated essential supply chains, and workers engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for mining production and distribution
  • Workers who produce or manufacture parts or equipment that supports continued operations for any essential services and increase in remote workforce (including computing and communications devices, semiconductors, and equipment such as security tools for Security Operations Centers (SOCs) or datacenters)
  • Workers supporting iron ore mining and processing operations and supplier/vendor industries essential to such mining and processing operations
  • Workers supporting printing operations that supply Critical Sectors. Other printing workers are not exempted

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

  • Workers who manage hazardous materials associated with any other essential activity, including but not limited to healthcare waste (medical, pharmaceuticals, medical material production), testing operations (laboratories processing test kits), and energy (nuclear facilities)
  • Workers at nuclear facilities, workers managing medical waste, workers managing waste from pharmaceuticals and medical material production, and workers at laboratories processing test kits
  • Workers who support hazardous materials response and cleanup • Workers who maintain digital systems infrastructure supporting hazardous materials management operations

FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • Workers who are needed to provide, process and maintain systems for processing, verification, and recording of financial transactions and services, including payment, clearing, and settlement; wholesale funding; insurance services; consumer and commercial lending; and capital markets activities
  • Workers who are needed to maintain orderly market operations to ensure the continuity of financial transactions and services
  • Workers who are needed to provide business, commercial, and consumer access to bank and non-bank financial services and lending services, including ATMs, lending and money transmission, and to move currency, checks, securities, and payments (e.g., armored cash carriers)
  • Workers who support financial operations and those staffing call centers, such as those staffing data and security operations centers, managing physical security, or providing accounting services
  • Workers supporting production and distribution of debit and credit cards
  • Workers providing electronic point of sale support personnel for essential businesses and workers
  • Workers at banks, credit unions, insurance companies, and insurance agencies
  • Debt collection professionals and other workers supporting debt collection are not exempted

CHEMICAL

  • Workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains, including workers at chemical manufacturing plants, workers in laboratories, workers at distribution facilities, workers who transport basic raw chemical materials to the producers of industrial and consumer goods, including hand sanitizers, food and food additives, pharmaceuticals, paintings and coatings, textiles, building materials, plumbing, electrical, and paper products
  • Workers supporting the safe transportation of chemicals, including those supporting tank truck cleaning facilities and workers who manufacture packaging items
  • Workers supporting the production of protective cleaning and medical solutions, personal protective equipment, disinfectants, fragrances, and packaging that prevents the contamination of food, water, medicine, among other essential products
  • Workers supporting the operation and maintenance of facilities (particularly those with high risk chemicals and/or sites that cannot be shut down) whose work cannot be done remotely and requires the presence of highly trained personnel to ensure safe operations, including plant contract workers who provide inspections
  • Workers who support the production and transportation of chlorine and alkali manufacturing, single-use plastics, and packaging that prevents the contamination or supports the continued manufacture of food, water, medicine, and other essential products, including glass container manufacturing

DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE

  • Workers who support the essential services required to meet national security commitments to the federal government and U.S. Military. These individuals include, but are not limited to, space and aerospace; mechanical and software engineers (various disciplines), manufacturing/production workers; IT support; security staff; security personnel; intelligence support, aircraft and weapon system mechanics and maintainers; and sanitary workers who maintain the hygienic viability of necessary facilities
  • Personnel working for companies, and their subcontractors, who perform under contract or sub-contract to the Department of Defense, as well as personnel at government-owned/contractor- operated and governmentowned/government operated facilities, and who provide materials and services to the Department of Defense, including support for weapon systems, software systems and cybersecurity, defense and intelligence communications and surveillance, space systems and other activities in support of our military, intelligence and space forces

COMMERCIAL FACILITIES/ESSENTIAL SUPPLY STORES

  • Workers who support the supply chain of building materials from production through application/installation, including cabinetry, fixtures, doors, cement, hardware, plumbing, electrical, heating/cooling, refrigeration, appliance, paint/coatings, and employees who provide services that enable repair materials and equipment for essential functions
  • Workers supporting ecommerce through distribution, warehouse, call center facilities, and other essential operational support functions
  • Workers in hardware and building materials stores, consumer electronics, technology and appliances retail, and related merchant wholesalers and distributors – with reduced staff to ensure continued operations
  • Workers distributing, servicing, repairing, installing residential and commercial HVAC systems, boilers, furnaces and other heating, cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation equipment
  • Workers essential to the operation of businesses that sell products, tools, materials, or supplies necessary for one of the critical sectors listed in the Stay At Home order, including necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed for medical supply chains, transportation, energy, communications, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, emergency services, and the defense industrial base
  • Workers critical to maintaining and securing our food supply, including grocers, suppliers, distributors, farmers, and food preparation companies
  • Workers necessary for operation of commercial and retail stores that supply essential sectors, including convenience stores, pet supply stores, auto supplies and repair, hardware and home improvement, and home appliance retailers
  • Workers who provide essential operations of businesses and operations that allow teleworking functions and workers to work from home
  • Workers that provide for the maintenance of the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of homes or residences
  • Manufacturers, technicians, logistics and warehouse operators, and distributors of medical equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), medical gases, pharmaceuticals, blood and blood products, vaccines, testing materials, laboratory supplies, cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting or sterilization supplies, personal care/hygiene products, and tissue and paper towel products
  • Workers, including logistical and contract workers, who are critical to facilitating support of the national, state, and local emergency response operations
  • Workers supporting licensed businesses that sell or service firearms pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 624.7192. Gun ranges and clubs should remain closed pursuant to Executive Orders 20-04 and 20-18.
  • Workers supporting arts & crafts stores, but only to the extent that they are distributing materials for making personal protective equipment (e.g. homemade facemasks). Such materials must be purchased prior to pick-up electronically or by phone and must be pre-packaged by the manufacturer, distributor, or the store. Workers supporting arts and crafts stores are not otherwise exempt.

RESIDENTIAL/SHELTER FACILITIES AND SERVICES

  • Workers in dependent care services, in support of workers in other essential products and services
  • Workers who support food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for needy groups and individuals, including in-need populations and COVID-19 responders (including travelling medical staff)
  • Workers in animal shelters.
  • Workers responsible for the leasing of residential properties to provide individuals and families with ready access to available housing.
  • Workers responsible for handling property management, maintenance, and related service calls who can coordinate the response to emergency “at-home” situations requiring immediate attention, as well as facilitate the reception of deliveries, mail, and other necessary services.
  • Workers performing housing construction related activities to ensure additional units can be made available to combat the nation’s existing housing supply shortage.
  • Workers performing services in support of the elderly and disabled populations who coordinate a variety of services, including health care appointments and activities of daily living.
  • Workers supporting the construction of housing, including those supporting government functions related to the building and development process, such as inspections, permitting and plan review services that can be modified to protect the public health, but fundamentally should continue and serve the construction of housing (e.g., allow qualified private third-party inspections in case of government shutdown).
  • Workers supporting emergency shelters, drop-in centers, and encampments. Governmental and other entities are strongly urged to make 24-hour shelters available as soon as possible, to the maximum extent practicable, and in compliance with CDC guidance.

LAUNDRY AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

  • Workers who produce hygiene products
  • Workers in laundromats, laundry services, and dry cleaners.
  • Workers providing personal and household goods repair and maintenance.
  • Workers providing disinfection services, for all essential facilities and modes of transportation, and supporting the sanitation of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail.
  • Workers necessary for the installation, maintenance, distribution, and manufacturing of water and space heating equipment and its components.
  • Support required for continuity of services, including commercial disinfectant services, janitorial/cleaning personnel, and support personnel functions that need freedom of movement to access facilities in support of front-line employees.
  • Workers in laundromats and all laundry or dry-cleaning services
  • Workers cleaning common areas in apartment buildings and other similar common spaces
  • Workers providing housecleaning for individuals with disabilities
  • Workers doing ordinary residential housecleaning of individual homes or apartments are not exempt

TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

  • Tribal officers and workers deemed essential by the relevant Tribal government, regardless of residence

JUDICIAL BRANCH

  • Judicial officers and personnel deemed essential by the Chief Justice to ensure the continued operations of Minnesota’s court system

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

  • Personnel deemed necessary to continue priority services of executive branch agencies, offices, departments, divisions, boards, bureaus, councils, committees, institutions, authorities, and commissions, as well as, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, Minnesota State Retirement System, Public Employees Retirement Association, and Teacher’s Retirement Association, as determined by the Commissioner of Management and Budget in consultation with those agencies and entities

EXECUTIVE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES

  • Constitutional Officers and personnel deemed essential by the applicable Constitutional Officer to ensure the continued operations of the Constitutional Office.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

  • Personnel deemed essential by the presiding officers of each body.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES

  • Nothing limits, prohibits, or restricts the operations of the federal government, or the movement of federal officials in Minnesota while acting in their official capacity, including federal judicial, legislative, and executive staff and personnel

NATIONAL GUARD

  • National Guard members that are on orders, to include state active duty, Title 32, or Title 10 orders and members in an Inactive Duty for Training status
  • At the discretion of the Adjutant General, this category also includes full-time staff of the Minnesota National Guard or Department of Military Affairs that are necessary for the execution of the National Guard’s mission

FAITH LEADERS AND WORKERS

  • Officials, workers, and leaders in houses of worship and other places of religious expression or fellowship, wherever their services may be needed
  • Workers necessary to plan, record, and distribute online or broadcast content to community members

EDUCATION

  • Educators and other workers supporting public and private schools, as well as higher education (e.g., colleges and universities)
  • Educators and other workers providing care to children as provided by Executive Order 20-19

CONSTRUCTION AND CRITICAL TRADES

  • Workers supporting construction of all kind
  • Workers in the skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers, HVAC and elevator technicians
  • Exterminators, cleaning and janitorial staff for commercial and governmental properties, moving and relocation services, security staff, operating engineers, and all other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of homes and residences and the other Critical Sectors
  • Workers supporting major appliance, sales, service, and parts sales 

CHILDCARE PROVIDERS

  • Educators and other workers in childcare centers, family childcare, schools, and other facilities
  • Individuals providing childcare for Critical Sector workers in a personal home, such as family, friend, and neighbor care required for Critical Sector workers to continue to perform their duties
  • Note: Childcare providers are encouraged to remain open to provide childcare services for workers in the Critical Sectors listed in this Executive Order and guidance and insofar as public health guidance can be followed

HOTELS, RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, AND SHELTERS

  • Workers supporting facilities and shelters for adults, seniors, and children, including victims of domestic violence, people with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse disorders, or mental illness
  • Workers of facilities and shelters that include halfway houses and residential treatment programs
  • Workers needed to keep apartment complex buildings and other congregate residences or homes operational and sanitary

CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS

  • Workers engaged in hunger relief efforts, including volunteers and other essential administrative, logistical and contractor staff
  • Workers who provide food, shelter, prescription delivery, mental health and substance abuse treatments, and other social services
  • Workers who provide or support essential functions of organizations that provide necessities of life for individuals in need of such services (such as services for older adults who live alone, people with disabilities, and those who need assistance as a result of this emergency)

LEGAL SERVICES

  • Workers who provide advice and representation needed to aid the delivery of all critical government services
  • Workers who provide advice and representation to ensure the immediate health, safety, and liberties of Minnesotans, including but not limited to end-of-life planning, immigration, essential services to elders and persons with disabilities, child supports, child-protection and domestic abuse matters, protection of personal financial resources necessary to meet basic needs, prosecution or defense in ongoing criminal matters, or all matters in which individuals are held in custody pending a legal proceeding, and proceedings held in the district or appellate courts
  • Workers who provide advice and representation related to the continuation of the Critical Sectors, including ensuring compliance with this Executive Order, previous Executive Orders, and all applicable laws, rules, and regulations applying to Critical Sectors.
  • Workers who support housing and shelter-related efforts, including loan applications, loan processing, seeking temporary relief from residential and commercial loan or lease provisions, retention of gas, electric, or water utility services, and seeking temporary relief from residential evictions or foreclosures, or other actions intended to keep people in their homes.
  • Workers who support legally mandated activities and critical sector services
  • Process servers and legal couriers 

NOTARIES

  • Notaries performing services that cannot be deferred and cannot be accomplished via remote services (under Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 358.645)

CRITICAL LABOR UNION FUNCTIONS

  • Workers who monitor the wellbeing and safety of members providing services in other critical sectors (i.e. healthcare and public health, law enforcement, transportation, public works, etc.)
  • Workers who perform essential activities at a labor union, including the administration of health and welfare funds

ANIMAL CARE AND VETERINARIANS

  • Veterinarians providing care to animals
  • Workers at animal care facilities
  • Department of Natural Resources workers and other workers who provide food, shelter, veterinary services, and other necessities of life for animals
  • Workers providing care (e.g., daycare or boarding) to pets in the following circumstances: Caring for pets owned by other Critical Sector workers during their shifts Caring for pets needing care because the owner is physically or otherwise unable to care for animal Caring for pets owned by individuals who are ill or quarantined provided that contact with the owner is limited to a to a one-time pick-up until the illness or quarantine has passed Caring for pets currently boarded and in circumstance where the owner cannot retrieve them
  • Caring for pets owned by other Critical Sector workers during their shifts
  • Caring for pets needing care because the owner is physically or otherwise unable to care for animal
  • Caring for pets owned by individuals who are ill or quarantined provided that contact with the owner is limited to a to a one-time pick-up until the illness or quarantine has passed
  • Caring for pets currently boarded and in circumstance where the owner cannot retrieve them
  • Workers supporting pet adoption and animal foster care are exempt, provided that (1) any paperwork and payment is done online, and (2) appropriate social distancing is observed during the adoption process • Workers supporting pet grooming businesses are not exempt
  • Note: Workers in this category are subject to restrictions on elective surgeries and procedures as set forth in Executive Orders 20-09 and 20-17.

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

  • Workers who facilitate and finance real estate transactions and real estate services, including appraisers and title services