SC Times reports that nearly 50 new coronavirus cases in St. Cloud have reported having one thing in common; visiting the Pickled Loon bar and restaurant in downtown St. Cloud within the last three weeks.
According to Scott Smith, a public information officer of the Minnesota Department of Health, 36 infected individuals mentioned visiting only the Pickled Loon. Moreover, 11 more mentioned visiting the pub and other nearby establishments, which were not named.
The estimated dates of the visits at The Pickled Loon are from June 11 to June 25. The majority of the patrons were found to have visited on June 20, with many of them visiting the bar more than once.
The surge in cases follows several others associated with bars in Minnesota state. On Monday, Jan Malcolm, the Health Commissioner, said that about 200 coronavirus cases were connected with bars. Two of which were located in Mankato, and about 100 cases were linked with two bars in Minneapolis.
In March, Governor Tim Walz ordered bars and other non-essential businesses to close. Early in June, some bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen with restrictions. Businesses were not allowed to exceed 50% occupancy. Additionally, patrons were expected to sit six feet apart from other parties.
Furthermore, bars were also not allowed to offer standing bar services. Employees were also required to wear face masks at all times.
Social Distancing Rules: Are People Complying?
According to Officer Smith, several bar owners were concerned and found it difficult to get patrons to respect social distancing requirements. They found it particularly hard to get customers to comply after dinner hours and much later in the evening.
The St. Cloud bar, The Pickled Loon, started closing at 10 P.M. last Friday. Their early closing was imposed because late-night customers would not maintain the recommended social distancing. The bar's management advises other bars to do the same to prevent jam-packed bars late at night.
Representatives at the Pickled Loon added that they felt that they couldn't control the crowds, which is why they implemented earlier closing hours. They said they didn't want to contribute to the problem; instead, they wanted to be part of the solution.
Minnesota to Expect More Surges in Cases if Citizens Don't Comply
The St. Cloud bar said that their tables are six feet apart, sanitizing stations are made available, and their staff wearing protective equipment. The Pickled Loon says management is doing its best to "do everything by the book." Furthermore, the Minnesota Health Department did not identify any staff confirmed to have COVID-19 infections.
Smith calls out to patrons to follow social distancing rules and to wear face masks when going out and visiting local establishments. He says these measures are necessary to prevent the spread of infections and to lessen business disruptions accompanying outbreaks.
Stearns County has reported more than 120 new coronavirus cases since June 25. A week before that, the county only saw an increase of 20 new COVID-19 cases.
According to Erin Tufte, Stearns County Emergency Management Director, cases are expected to rise as people continue to interact more with each other. She adds that people really need to be following the rules when it comes to wearing protective equipment and social distancing.
