Governor Tim Walz has extended Minnesota’s stay home order (PDF) until Monday, May 18 while “safely adjusting the dials” towards reopening the state, including allowing retail businesses to begin offering curbside pickup.

Your efforts are allowing Minnesota to manage the effects of COVID-19 by adding healthcare capacity, securing personal protective equipment and increasing testing capabilities while taking steps to reopen sections of the economy.

Residents should continue to practice social distancing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Proud to Live in Plymouth
As we navigate this unprecedented situation, I continue to be proud of Plymouth residents and their resiliency. As new challenges develop, our residents face them head on.

For example, in the statewide mask drive last weekend, more than 2,477 homemade cloth masks were collected at Plymouth fire stations to distribute to local congregate living facilities. We also continue to hear from residents, asking how they could help.

Thank you for adhering to the stay home order and for practicing social distancing. This gets tougher as the days go by, but it’s important to continue on this path so we can return to normal while mitigating the impact of the virus.

Business Resources and Support
The City of Plymouth Economic Development Division is working to help businesses facing challenges. A good starting point for those facing difficulty is the city’s Coronavirus Business/Employee Resources webpage, which contains a list of available resources. The webpage is updated as resources become available.

Small brick and mortar businesses in Plymouth can also reach out to Economic Development Manager Danette Parr at dparr@plymouthmn.gov if they need help connecting to resources.

I also encourage residents who are able to support Plymouth restaurants. Visit the Restaurant Takeout and Delivery Links webpage to find a list of restaurants offering delivery, takeout or curbside pickup. Now more than ever, our businesses are relying on loyal customers and support from the community.

Additionally, it has been a point of great pride to see Plymouth’s many med-tech and med-tech support companies continue to play an important role in the pandemic response. The innovation and ingenuity of Plymouth’s business community has been on full display.

Staying Safe Outdoors
With the warmer weather, Plymouth residents are turning to parks, trails and roadways for fresh air and exercise. While we encourage residents to get outdoors, please be careful and considerate of others – and continue to practice social distancing.

Please be aware of what is happening around you. As residents practice social distancing, some take wider paths around others on trails, cross roadways to maintain distance, or walk, bike and run in areas they normally would not. Be safe, and please practice responsible use of Plymouth’s parks.

Continuing the Path
This is an unprecedented challenge for all of us. It doesn’t seem fair and it won’t go away easily, but Plymouth is a strong community, and we can get through this together – even as we stay home.

I’d like to finish by sharing my sincere gratitude for health care workers, first responders, custodial staff and everyone who continues to work on the front lines of this pandemic – thank you for all you do.

Stay well,

Mayor Jeff Wosje