Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce additional COVID-19 restrictions today that will shut down a number of businesses and local activities in an attempt to help the state regain control over the virus.
Minnesota is currently seventh in the nation in terms of new cases per 100,000 people over the last two weeks, and the number of open beds on ICUs continues to get smaller. Below, we take a closer look at the expected restrictions and share some tips for staying healthy during this shutdown.
Expected Restrictions
Gov. Walz is expected to shut down in-person dining at bars and restaurants, close gyms and fitness centers and put organized youth sports on hold for the next four weeks.
“The idea that we just can go on with the way things have been with the data we have simply isn’t sustained by the facts, nor in good conscious can I, as governor, put people at risk of what’s coming,” said Gov. Walz. “The virus cares about none of those things we like to do, and it will simply bring death and destruction, overwhelming our health care system.”
Restaurants and bars are still expected to be able to offer takeout during the four-week period, but other businesses like gyms and fitness centers will be closed for at least four weeks.
Staying Healthy During The Shutdown
Staying healthy during shutdown will be both important and harder than normal to achieve, but here are some tips on how to do so.
Exercise – Find ways to exercise on your own since gyms will be closed. Bust out the exercise equipment that you have at your house, do some outdoor workouts, or find some “no equipment” exercise routines online by doing a bit of searching. Carve out time for exercise on a regular basis over the next four weeks.
Grocery Store Social Distancing – While you shouldn’t hoard, consider buying some foods in bulk so that you can limit the amount of trips you need to make to the grocery store over the next few weeks. And if possible, try to order your groceries online and do contact-less delivery or pickup to limit your exposure to others.
Healthy Takeout – We will be doing our part to help businesses and restaurants through this tough time, and we hope you do the same. It’s acceptable to order out a little more than normal, but please make sure you’re still making healthy choices. Don’t order pizza one night, fried chicken the next night and then a Friday fish fry to round out the week. Still strive to maintain a healthy and balanced diet even if you’re ordering from places that offer some more unhealthy (but delicious) options.
Destress – Stress can actually cause physical problems for your health, so do what you can to reduce or eliminate stress in your life. Disconnect from the television or internet and play a game with your family, or dive into a new book series. Find ways to limit stress in your life, and your physical health will improve.
If you can follow the above tips, we’re confident you’ll have a good chance at coming out the other side of this pandemic in great health. For more tips, or to talk to a orthopedic specialist about your foot or ankle pain, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today.