(ST. PAUL, MN) – Governor Walz announced Wednesday that he will be loosening the restrictions he put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Although this is a step in the right direction, the Governor needs to quickly make moves to bring normalcy back to Minnesota.

“I am happy the Governor is making moves to bring normalcy back to some parts of life in Minnesota,” Senator Gene Dornink (R-Hayfield) remarked after the Governor’s announcement, “but I have concern over the speed at which this will impact rural Minnesota. The back and forth of opening and closing businesses is really hurting the people I represent.”

The roll-out of vaccines and who is prioritized needs to be looked at and sped up immediately. If we are to fight in this pandemic, we need to get the vaccines to those who need it most as soon as possible. When you compare Minnesota to other states with looser policies, it is clear that the intense restrictions in our state are only somewhat effective and does not give us a quicker path to recovery.

Senator Dornink is happy to see some movement in the right direction but is looking forward to more change in the future.