COVID-19 Task Force E-lert: Governor DeSantis Announces Florida Restaurants and Bars Can Reopen

Orlando, Fla. – June 3, 2020 – In a press conference held today in Orlando, Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis announced beginning this Friday, June 5, restaurants and bars will open at half capacity indoors and full capacity outdoors. The announcement applies to all restaurants and bars throughout the State of Florida except for the counties with the highest COVID-19 rates, including Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach.

The Governor’s Executive Order expressly excludes "nightclubs" from the relaxed standards, but does not specify how nightclubs differ from the bars or clubs that are allowed to reopen on a limited capacity basis.

Governor DeSantis also announced movie theaters and bowling alleys may reopen at 50 percent capacity, and personal services businesses, including tattoo shops and massage parlors, may reopen while following health department guidelines.

View Executive Order 20-139, regarding Phase 2: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery here. 

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