Lake supports opening other businesses

Lake County commissioners said Tuesday they support opening more businesses, such as salons, barbers and gyms in the county as the state eases its coronavirus restrictions.

Other officials across Central Florida have raised the same issue to Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose Phase 1 coronavirus order allows some businesses to operate under limitations on capacity, social distancing and similar limitations.

Commission Chairman Leslie Campione said Lake officials would like the governor to allow individual counties to move to Phase 2 sooner than others, if the pandemic’s effects are easing.

Lake has 235 COVID-19 infections and 14 deaths, according to the state Department of Health as of Tuesday. But the number of daily infections as well as visits to emergency rooms with flu or coronavirus symptoms have dropped in recent weeks.

Several commissioners noted that businesses like salons could operate under similar precautions as businesses that are now allowed open, such as restaurants and shops.

DeSantis visited Orange County on Saturday to discuss the issue with Orange Mayor Jerry Demings and local business owners.

“He’s definitely taking a harder look at this issue,” Champione said.