Orlando, FL - Governor Ron DeSantis announces that all but three of Florida's counties will move onto Phase 2 of the state's reopening plan on Friday (June 5th).
The announcement was made earlier this afternoon (June 3rd) from Universal Orlando, which held a soft reopening today.
According to the new plan, capacities will increase for some businesses. Restaurants will also be able to offer bar-top seating once again, with social distancing guidelines in mind and outdoor seating prioritized.
Bars, pubs and nightclubs–any establishment where more than 50% of sales come from alcohol purchases–will also be coming back with similar stipulations that restaurants faced during their initial reopening. Although, some newer stipulations will also be in effect.
According to Governor DeSantis, bars must diminish "standing room" occupancy, meaning that establishments must move to seated-only service for the time being.
"Bars and pubs may operate at 50% capacity inside, full capacity outside, and it's going to be a seated service," said DeSantis
The state's plan also details the end of capacity limits for retail stores. Stores will be able to operate at full capacity again as long as proper social distancing and sanitization protocols are in place. Similarly, gyms will also be able to operate at 100% capacity with the same kind of guidelines put in place.
Pari-Mutuel businesses (horse/dog race betting establishments) may reopen too. However, they must first submit a request, which has to include an endorsement from their county's administrator, to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation before they are given the all-clear to do so.
Entertainment businesses – theaters, concert venues, bowling alleys, etc. – will be allowed to reopen at 50% capacity.
Theme parks will be able to submit their reopening plans to the state. Universal, so far, is the only one to do so and plans to host a full reopening on Friday.
And other businesses such as tanning salons, massage centers and tattoo parlors will be allowed to operate again with guidance from the state's health department.
There is also the possibility of universities reopening soon. DeSantis told reporters that Florida's universities have developed a task force that's set to create a framework to reopen campuses. They are expected to reveal their plan by June 23rd.
That will be the plan for 64 of Florida's 67 counties. The three exempt counties, Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach, which have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, will remain in phase one. If the county wishes to move on to phase two, they must seek approval from their county's mayor/administrator.
