Minnesota moved into its next phase of reopening Monday amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March, Gov. Tim Walz closed restaurants and bars statewide March 17 to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, allowing only curbside pickup and delivery. On Monday, some restaurants that featured outdoor seating began serving outdoor diners.

A big question is, how do restaurants accommodate the diners outside should the weather turn sour? And that’s just what happened Tuesday afternoon in Central Minnesota.

“We weren’t open Monday but got set up for Tuesday for outdoor dining,” said Tracie Hogrefe, owner of Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant in Becker.

“We opened at three and a bunch of people were here ready to go, but by 3:15 the rain and lightning rolled in and ruined everything.”

When Walz announced May 20 the move to outdoor dining, he said he intended to gradually reopen the economy to prevent the pandemic from “boiling” over.

Two trade groups ­— Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association and Hospitality Minnesota —are calling on Gov. Walz to relax on-site restrictions on Minnesota bars and restaurants, one day after they were allowed to reopen for limited outdoor dining.

“Clearly, the regulations for closing all indoor service at bars and restaurants is not based on science,” Tony Chesak, executive director of the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association, said in a news release.

The organizations are calling for the reopening of indoor dining immediately or by June 8 “at the very latest.” They also want the reopening of private indoor and outdoor pools in lodging facilities and campgrounds and the reopening of fitness centers and recreational play areas, all while maintaining social distancing and sanitation measures.

“We are in danger of losing critical businesses and jobs and we are exporting revenue by the day to nearby states that have already relaxed limitations,” Hospitality Minnesota said in a statement. “The state must act now on these three items.”

Hogrefe said she is faithfully adhering to the state requirements for re-opening despite some of their strict demands.

Tables need to be (at a minimum) six-feet apart. On-premises capacity is no more than 50 persons. Table service is limited to four persons, or six if part of one family unit. Reservations in advance are required and workers are to wear masks while customers are encouraged — but not required — to do so themselves.

Originally, the requirements for opening indicated there was to be no inside use of the restrooms — restaurateurs were required to rent “biffies” to accommodate guests. And, the rule was to clean the biffie immediately after each use.

The state eased that restriction before Monday by saying indoor bathrooms could be used, but one person at a time in the building. Again, the requirement (at the time) advised the workers to clean the indoor bathroom after each and every visit.

However, just prior to the June 1 order, the state eased yet again on the requirement, saying customers can indeed use the indoor restroom, but social distancing protocols must still be followed and people are told not to congregate indoors waiting for a restroom.

As far as the weather, the state says the underlying goal of all guidelines and requirements is to keep people safe and save lives, so in the event of inclement weather, customers may move indoors to package food and pay bills, but must exit quickly. Hogrefe was told to not allow customers to move indoor to continue their meal or drinks.

Hogrefe’s wait staff are also required to fill out a health screening test prior to each shift. The checklist lists symptoms that workers are asked to divulge before starting their shifts. The checklist asks, do you have a fever or feel feverish? Do you have chills? Shortness of breath? A new sore throat? New muscle aches? New headache? New loss of smell or taste?

If the worker answers “yes” to any of the questions, they are asked to return home. Temperature screening is advised but not required.

Phase III of Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan is proposed to include some capacity for indoor dining. A date has not been set for when Phase III will begin, but some have heard “grumblings” that bars and restaurants won’t fully re-open until September.

Currently, Los Ortiz’s. Pebble Creek Bar & Grill, Pizza Depot and others have outdoor seating arrangements in Becker.