Gov. Tim Walz wants Minnesotans to know that residents are doing a good job slowing the number of new COVID-19 cases in the state. He also wants people to know that with major religious holidays coming up this month that would be typically bringing people together, now is not the time to ease up on social distancing and stay at home efforts.
The Jewish holiday Passover begins Wednesday evening. Holy Week is under way with Good Friday and Easter coming up this weekend. Ramadan begins later this month.
“With Passover starting and Easter and then Ramadan coming on, I know this (is) very challenging,” Walz said on a Tuesday conference call. “These are opportunities to spend with family in larger gatherings centered around food in many cases. … I’m hearing from the religious community, from many of my neighbors, from legislators about figuring out … if there’s a way that we can social distance and be able to honor our traditions.”
Walz said they were “continuing to work on that,” while discouraging people from gathering in large numbers in closed spaces. Instead, he said they were encouraging people to try to be creative in their celebrations of these holidays.
Some religious centers around the Twin Cities have already taken to that, like First Presbyterian Church in South St. Paul, which has been posting worship services online or Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul, which has posted videos resources and is helping connect congregants with virtual Seders.
“I know the temptation, especially around these important holidays,” Walz said. “We are trying to work with religious leaders to figure out ways that we can make sure that they’re as meaningful as possible and that we have that sense of fellowship and worship but without having people put in danger.”
