North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced plans Monday to ease restrictions on the number of people who gather in restaurants, bars and event venues, citing a decrease in active COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations due to the coronavirus.

Starting Friday, businesses will be allowed to operate at 65 percent of capacity, not to exceed 200 people. Banquet, ballroom and event venues, which have been limited to 25 percent capacity, will be able to start operating at 50 percent.

Other rules will remain in place, such as requiring at least 6 feet between individual parties and masks to be worn except when eating or drinking, and providing service to seated customers only.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also said Monday he will announce a loosening of restrictions on indoor settings and other restrictions Wednesday.