(ST. PAUL, MN) –  Today, Governor Walz issued Executive Order 20-51, which lifts restrictions on doctors, dentists, and veterinarians to perform some elective surgeries and procedures. The facilities must submit a safety plan compliant with Minnesota Department of Health guidelines before opening. Senator Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake), who has been a proponent of re-starting procedures for weeks, issued the following statement:

“The governor’s order offers a ray of light to the people who have been waiting for necessary medical care,” said Senator Benson. “Countless hospital staff have been furloughed, leaving our healthcare system vulnerable, hundreds of citizens without work, and many care centers at risk of permanent closure. The first two weeks of the order were necessary for pandemic preparation – stocking up on PPE and increasing ICU bed capacity. We reached those milestones quickly, but restrictions on elective care continued, causing immense damage. I am pleased that Minnesotans can finally look forward to getting their physical pain and worry relieved, and healthcare professionals can return to their vocations.”

Senator Benson signed onto a letter urging Governor Walz to lift the ban on elective surgeries, along with many other Republican legislators last week.