Gyms, senior centers set to reopen in Orange

With rising numbers of vaccinated residents and fewer new COVID19 infections this month, Orange County will reopen its senior centers, gyms and other indoor facilities next week for the first time in over a year.

“The fact we are reopening many of the county’s facilities is an indication that we are slowly returning to normal,” Mayor Jerry Demings said Monday. “I feel pretty confident this is the right thing to do and the

right time . ... More people are voluntarily wearing their facial coverings and we continue to vaccinate people at a fairly brisk pace.”

The mayor shuttered county-operated indoor recreational centers March 20, 2020, the same day he imposed a nightly curfew by executive order to slow the virus. The facilities will open Monday at 50% capacity and require visitors to follow safety guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We’re going from zero [capacity] to 50, and we’ll see how that goes as far as people following social distancing and wearing masks when not exercising,” said Matt Suedmeyer, Orange County Parks and Recreation manager. “We’ll provide masks for those who don’t have them and staff policing the rec centers to make sure people follow rules.”

Suedmeyer said, judging by inquiries, people are eager to visit the centers not only to work out but to book party space for family gatherings and birthday parties.

Demings said his other emergency order — requiring facial coverings in public places — will remain in place. The county’s compliance “strike” teams will continue to visit businesses to encourage patrons and employees to follow protocols health officials credit for limiting the spread of the virus blamed for 33,000 deaths in Florida, nearly 1,200 here.

The three-person teams stopped issuing citations to violators earlier this month after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis invalidated fines levied by local governments on non-compliant businesses.

Instead, violators now get a letter from Code Enforcement informing them they failed an inspection and why.

Dr. Raul Pino, the state health officer in Orange County, said he had less concern for people working out in open-air spaces than indoor recreation.

“We just have to follow CDC preventive measures for a little bit longer,” he said.

Among the improving health data was a sharp decline in COVID deaths.

COVID deaths in Orange County fell dramatically over the past three months — from a pandemic-high of 227 in January to 112 in Feb to 27 so far this month.

Pino said the death-rate drop has coincided with the rise of vaccinations.

“This decrease is significant to our community, and we hope that it is sustainable,” he said.

Pino said the county had vaccinated about 19% of its population as of Monday afternoon.