Minneapolis Uprising: The Murder of George Floyd
Photography from Minneapolis

April 2020: Minneapolis Under Stay-At-Home Orders

Documentation of Minneapolis during statewide COVID-19 shutdowns prior to the events of May 25, 2020.

April 1–30, 2020 Minneapolis

April 2020 in Minneapolis was defined by the deepening COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid transformation of daily life under statewide public health restrictions. Stay-at-home orders, business closures, and emergency declarations workplaces, and public space. Streets grew quieter as residents adapted to remote work, distance learning, and evolving guidance from city and state officials.

Community response during the month centered on mutual aid, food distribution, and housing stability. Grassroots networks expanded to support vulnerable residents, frontline workers, and small businesses navigating the sudden disruption. Handwritten signs, window art, and socially distanced gatherings reflected both isolation and solidarity through the unprecedented period in the city’s history.

By late April, conversations about structural inequities in healthcare access, employment, and housing were becoming more visible in public discourse. Volunteer-led initiatives increased in scale, and local organizations amplified efforts focused on food security and emergency relief.

Key dates

April 2020 in Minneapolis was shaped by escalating COVID-19 case counts, public health mandates, and expanding community support networks responding to pandemic conditions.

  • April 1–7 — Stay-at-home orders and public health communications dominate city life as COVID-19 cases rise in Minnesota; workplaces close and residents adjust to new restrictions.
  • April 8–12 — Mutual aid networks and community organizations expand food distribution and housing support efforts for vulnerable residents.
  • Mid-April — Small, socially distanced memorials and neighborhood expressions of solidarity appear across the city.
  • April 18–22 — Public discussion grows around disparities in health outcomes and economic impacts affecting communities of color.
  • April 24–26 — Volunteer-led support for frontline workers and at-risk neighbors accelerates; nonprofit and faith-based groups increase visibility.
← Prev
Year Index
The Lucky Dragon Restaurant and Hard Times Cafe on Riverside Avenue in Minneapolis.
April 1, 2020 — The Lucky Dragon Restaurant and Hard Times Cafe on Riverside Avenue in Minneapolis.
First Avenue and 7th St Entry concert venues in downtown Minneapolis on April 2, 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdowns. VOTE2020 seen in the windows.
April 2, 2020 — First Avenue and 7th St Entry concert venues in downtown Minneapolis on April 2, 2020 during the COVID-19 shutdowns. VOTE2020 seen in the windows.
Hotels in downtown Minneapolis with rooms lit up during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
April 3, 2020 — Hotels in downtown Minneapolis with rooms lit up during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Hilton Hotel in Downtown Minneapolis lit up with a HOPE heart. Seen during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak shutdowns.
April 3, 2020 — Hilton Hotel in Downtown Minneapolis lit up with a HOPE heart. Seen during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak shutdowns.
Ramp A parking garage in Downtown Minneapolis.
April 4, 2020 — Ramp A parking garage in Downtown Minneapolis.
An empty 9th Street, 1st Avenue and Hawthorne Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis during COVID-19 shutdowns. The Target Center on the left and The Seville dance club in the middle.
April 4, 2020 — An empty 9th Street, 1st Avenue and Hawthorne Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis during COVID-19 shutdowns. The Target Center on the left and The Seville dance club in the middle.
Loews Hotel with a heart on it in solidarity with others hotels during covid-19 shutdowns.
April 4, 2020 — Loews Hotel with a heart on it in solidarity with others hotels during covid-19 shutdowns.
Ramp C parking garage in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
April 6, 2020 — Ramp C parking garage in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Very little traffic on Interstate 35W. Cedar Riverside in the background.
April 10, 2020 — Very little traffic on Interstate 35W. Cedar Riverside in the background.
Unused locked Metro Transit buses parked in a grassy lot in North Minneapolis.
April 15, 2020 — Unused locked Metro Transit buses parked in a grassy lot in North Minneapolis.
Downtown Minneapolis skyline as seen from Lake of the Isles.
April 17, 2020 — Downtown Minneapolis skyline as seen from Lake of the Isles.
Downtown Minneapolis with Hyatt Place and Centre Village signs.
April 18, 2020 — Downtown Minneapolis with Hyatt Place and Centre Village signs.
Hennepin Healthcare ambulances in Downtown Minneapolis.
April 18, 2020 — Hennepin Healthcare ambulances in Downtown Minneapolis.
CNN on a tv inside a hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
April 18, 2020 — CNN on a tv inside a hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
A crosswalk button in Minneapolis after the city disabled 450 walk buttons in late April 2020. Sign reads "Pushing button is not required. The walk signal will turn on automatically. Wait for walk signal before crossing."
April 21, 2020 — A crosswalk button in Minneapolis after the city disabled 450 walk buttons in late April 2020. Sign reads "Pushing button is not required. The walk signal will turn on automatically. Wait for walk signal before crossing."
Loews Hotel, LaSalle Plaza, Target Headquarters and the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, MN.
April 23, 2020 — Loews Hotel, LaSalle Plaza, Target Headquarters and the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, MN.
An empty Interstate 394 in Minneapolis seen on April 25, 2020 during COVID-19 closures.
April 25, 2020 — An empty Interstate 394 in Minneapolis seen on April 25, 2020 during COVID-19 closures.
Bob Dylan Mural in downtown Minneapolis by Kobra during COVID-19 shutdown.
April 27, 2020 — Bob Dylan Mural in downtown Minneapolis by Kobra during COVID-19 shutdown.
Cedar-Riverside LRT trains station in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
April 27, 2020 — Cedar-Riverside LRT trains station in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Downtown Minneapolis and construction on I-35W.
April 27, 2020 — Downtown Minneapolis and construction on I-35W.
A letter posted in the window of Punch Pizza announces the temporary closure of all locations beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, citing the rapid spread of COVID-19.
April 29, 2020 — A letter posted in the window of Punch Pizza announces the temporary closure of all locations beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, citing the rapid spread of COVID-19.
A temporary public health sign outside a Walgreens store instructs customers to follow CDC guidance and remain six feet apart while inside and outside the building. Such signage became widespread in the United States in March 2020, when retailers adopted distancing protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The six-foot standard reflected federal public health recommendations intended to reduce airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in shared indoor spaces. National pharmacy chains like Walgreens remained open as essential businesses, implementing floor markers, occupancy limits, plexiglass barriers, and posted guidance like this to manage customer flow and maintain access to prescriptions and basic goods during lockdown periods.
April 29, 2020 — A temporary public health sign outside a Walgreens store instructs customers to follow CDC guidance and remain six feet apart while inside and outside the building. Such signage became widespread in the United States in March 2020, when retailers adopted distancing protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The six-foot standard reflected federal public health recommendations intended to reduce airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in shared indoor spaces. National pharmacy chains like Walgreens remained open as essential businesses, implementing floor markers, occupancy limits, plexiglass barriers, and posted guidance like this to manage customer flow and maintain access to prescriptions and basic goods during lockdown periods.
Art at Powderhorn park in South Minneapolis during COVID-19 shutdowns.
April 30, 2020 — Art at Powderhorn park in South Minneapolis during COVID-19 shutdowns.
Sunset at Powderhorn Park in South Minneapolis
April 30, 2020 — Sunset at Powderhorn Park in South Minneapolis
Built in Minneapolis
© 1996–2026 Chad Davis