Coronavirus changes plans

Numerous organizations in the area are altering their schedules in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Because the situation is changing so rapidly, the Graphic recommends that people contact organizations directly for the most up-to-date information.

Lake City Public Library

Lake City Public Library is closed. See related story on the city’s coronavirus response.

Lake City Public Schools

Lake City Public Schools will remain closed at least through March 27. No distance learning is planned for this break. Teachers and staff are using the time to prepare to offer distance learning for students if the closure extends beyond that date. The school is offering free lunches to anyone 18 years of age and younger (see related story). See related story on the school district’s coronavirus response.

Mayo Clinic Health System Lake City

Mayo Clinic has announced that it will defer all elective care for at least eight weeks beginning March 23. See related story for more information.

Until further notice, Mayo in Lake City is restricting visitors. Hospitalized patients are allowed two visitors. All other patients are allowed one. Visitors will be screened for respiratory illness upon arrival. People who test positive will be prohibited from entering. Mayo may grant exceptions for end-of-life patients, pediatric patients, and patients with language barriers. People can see related story or mayoclinichealthsystem.org/covid19 for more information.

Lake City Chamber of Commerce

In a March 18 letter to business owners, Chamber Executive Director Michelle Larson wrote that they are “rescheduling all networking, meeting and programming events. Our office will be working remotely until further notice. We will continue to serve you. I am confident we will find innovative, technological ways to encourage connections and business building.”

Lake City Sportsman’s Club

The Lake City Sportsman’s Club has canceled all events until further notice. This includes the weekly fish fries, the Pheasants Forever banquet and a gun bingo event planned jointly with the Frontenac Sportsman’s Club.

Lake City Police Department

In a Facebook post Monday, March 16, the Lake City Police Department asked people to avoid coming to the police department lobby to make reports and instead make reports over the phone using the department’s non-emergency telephone number 651-345-3391.

Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy announced in an email to customers March 16 that it would not disconnect customers until further notice. Customers that are having difficulty paying bills are asked to contact the company to arrange a payment plan.

St. John’s Lutheran School

St. John’s Lutheran School is closed through March 27, in accordance with Gov. Tim Walz’s guidelines, Principal David Zabel said. All activities are canceled through the end of March.

“We are diligently working on plans to continue teaching our students through long-distance learning,” he said. “We are communicating all school-related information to our parents via email.”

Bars, restaurants, places of public amusement

On March 16, Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order to “order the temporary closure of Minnesota restuarants and bars to dine-in customers. He also ordered the temporary closure of other places of public accommodation and amusement, including theaters, museums, fitness centers, and community clubs.” The Lake City Chamber of Commerce is working on a list of restaurants that will remain open for curb-side or other service.

Lake City American Legion

The steak fry scheduled for Saturday, March 21, is canceled.

Tiger Time School-Age Child Care

Tiger Time school-age child care at Bluff View Elementary School closed to the public. Children with parents who work in certain emergency-related fields are eligible for childcare. See related story on the school district’s coronavirus response.

Lake City City Hall

City hall and other city buildings are closed to the public. People can contact city staff by phone at 651-345-5383. The city is encouraging utility customers to pay bills online. See related story on the city’s coronavirus response.

Lake City Food Shelf

Emergency procedures are now in effect to reduce potential exposure to the coronavirus at the Lake City Food Shelf. Clients will remain in their cars in the food shelf parking lot and grocery bundles will be assembled inside the building and delivered by volunteer staff to the vehicles. Operating hours will remain the same: Tuesdays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; second and fourth Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.