Gov. DeSantis Announces Phase 1 Reopening Of Florida Begins On Monday

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced his administration's Phase 1 plan for reopening the state amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Here are some of the key aspects of the order:

  • The plan begins Monday, May 4th and excludes Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.
  • Distance learning continues for schools.
  • Visits to senior living facilities continue to be prohibited.
  • Elective surgeries can resume.
  • Restaurants:Outdoor seating is allowed with 6 ft. of space between tables; indoor seating must be at 25% capacity.
  • Bars, gyms and fitness centers remain closed.
  • In-store retail sales establishments can reopen at 25% capacity.
  • Museums and libraries can operate at 25% capacity.
  • Local governments can have more restrictive policies than the state if they so choose, which means to understand the full scope of Florida's reopening, residents will have to wait for guidance from local officials.

The state is also recommending residents avoid socializing in groups of more than 10, and face masks are recommended for all face-to-face interactions.

As for personal service businesses like hair salons and barbershops, the governor included them in his presentation as businesses that will remain closed during Phase 1, but there is no specific mention of them in the actual order, which you can access here.

At the moment, there is no time frame for the initiation of Phase 2, or an outline of what might be included in that order.

DeSantis said the second phase will depend on if there are surges or declines in the number of cases.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.


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