DeSantis could expand plan
Governor expected to add gyms, more restaurant seating to Florida reopening
Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to announce as early as Friday that Florida gyms and fitness centers can reopen and indoor seating at restaurants could grow to 50% as part of his plan to restart the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.
DeSantis’ comments came Thursday at a South Florida news conference held to reveal that Miami-Dade and Broward counties would join the rest of the state in taking their first steps toward reopening.
On May 4, the governor signed an executive order allowing indoor restaurant dining at 25% capacity.
But his South Florida order Thursday immediately allowed 50% capacity for restaurants, and DeSantis said he would have a “good announcement” Friday about restaurants in the rest of the state.
Asked about the potential reopening of gyms, DeSantis said it was important to him that people have access to them.
He also downplayed the dangers and risk of infection for young people who would go to gyms, despite warnings from health experts that they could infect others and the unknown dangers of the long-term effects of the virus.
“If you look in some of these jurisdictions, it’s like 90-plus percent of the folks under 65 that have had fatalities have had serious conditions, and many of that has been tied to obesity,” DeSantis said. “So let’s tell people to get out and do those things.”
The South Florida counties, the epicenter of the outbreak in Florida, have continued to be under the governor’s initial stay-at-home order even after 64 of the state’s 67
counties entered Phase 1 on May 4. It was announced earlier this week that Palm Beach County would also move to Phase 1 on Monday.
Phase 1 included the partial reopening of restaurants, libraries, museums
and retail at 25% indoor capacity and allowing hospitals to perform elective procedures.
“It was a limited Phase 1, it was a safe step,” DeSantis said. “It was a smart step. But it was done step by step because we think that’s the best way to build confidence. And so Miami and Broward will be in a similar
vein with that. And part of the reason why I think that this makes sense is because they’ve progressed nicely in terms of dealing with the epidemic.”
He said the state still hasn’t fully moved to all that Phase 1 would allow, adding that Phase 2, when it happens, “isn’t really that much different from what Florida’s
done already” besides reopening bars and nightclubs.
Mark Wilson, president & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said on Twitter he expected several announcements this week from the governor about expanding operations and increasing business capacity, including what he
called an “anticipated” Phase 2 by Monday.
But the governor would not set a date on when Phase 2 would begin.
“We’ll obviously look at it,” he said. “But I think the main thing is to keep going in a good direction, keep building on success, and then we’ll have a good pathway forward.”
At least one measure from the early days of the coronavirus pandemic will continue, as DeSantis extended the state’s moratorium on foreclosures and evictions until June 2. It had been scheduled to expire Sunday.