DeSantis continues to loosen policies
Gyms, fitness centers can reopen; restaurants can expand seating
TALLAHASSEE — Gyms and fitness centers can reopen again Monday, and restaurants and retail stores can move to 50% capacity, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday as part of his plan to bring Florida’s economy back to life amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Some of the things we could’ve done but didn’t do initially we are now adding,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Jacksonville. “This is appropriate given the progress that Florida’s made.”
He called the changes “full Phase 1” of this three-step plan to reopen. Previously, retail and restaurants could only use 25% of their indoor dining rooms. Outdoor dining spaces can still be used if tables are at least 6 feet apart.
Gyms can operate if they practice safe social distancing and sanitize machines and surface after use, he said. He made no mention of limits, but the executive order released later Friday said 50% of capacity would be allowed.
Bars remain closed, and theme parks must submit detailed plans on safety procedures, DeSantis said.
DeSantis also said he didn’t know when Florida’s theme parks might reopen but that he wanted them to work with local government authorities to come up with safety plans.
Venues that remain closed include bars and indoor movie theaters, and vacation rentals are still prohibited. DeSantis said the White House guidance for Phase 1 of reopening didn’t call for a reopening of bars, and he wants to see more details on how theaters could practice social distancing among customers before allowing them to reopen.
For short-term rentals, which are big business in much of Central Florida, DeSantis said he wants counties to pitch him their safety plans before allowing them again.
“If you tell me you’re going to rent them out to people from New York City, I’m probably not going to approve that, okay?” DeSantis said. “If you’re saying you’re going to rent it out to people in other parts of Florida or … you have an eye to safety it would be fine.”
When asked if he was worried about a possible second wave of cases as Florida reopens, DeSantis said it was important to be prepared for that but noted other countries and other states, such as Georgia, that have opened up haven’t seen a new round of cases yet.
“The fact is nobody really knows, we’ve got to be prepared for that,” DeSantis said. “I’ve said approach this with a lot of humility because you’re talking about a novel virus … everyone should just be prepared, everyone should just recognize you will never get to a point where you can say ‘it’s gone.’”
DeSantis cited state data showing the percentage of positive test results has dwindled in the last month, from 10.5% to 7.1% as of Friday. He said most of the new cases come from prisons or long term care facilities for the elderly. Overall, there have been 43,210 COVID-19 cases in Florida with 1,875 deaths.
But one Democratic lawmaker warned more testing was needed.
“I think we’re sort of shooting in the dark here,” said Sen. Gary Farmer, DFort Lauderdale, while at the Old Capitol on Friday. “Because without testing, without much more significant testing of more Floridians, it’s going to be hard for us to make a determination that we’re doing this safely and effectively.”
Central Florida developer Chuck Whittall, whose company Unicorp National Developments has more than 200 restaurants among its properties, including several on International Drive, said the change will be a big boost to a battered industry.
“There is a balance where the public will determine when they will start going out, but it’s a great step,” he said. “It’s the life they need, and they now have hope that they will push through this.”
Whittall says he expects DeSantis to allow restaurants at full capacity in midJune, although that alone won’t automatically bring business back.
“It’s not like he gives the OK, and people will come out,” he said. “By the time we get to the fall, hopefully, we can look back and say, ‘That was different but we are doing OK.’ It won’t be like it was in January, but they can make a living again.”
The news thrilled Michael Berry, who owns Pure Energy Fitness & Flexibility, a small gym in the Mills 50 business district.
Since mid-March, he has had to close his business and file for unemployment while bills piled up.
“I put everything I have into this,” said Berry, who opened the 1,600-square-foot gym three years ago. “A lot of us put years in gaining an education, working at other places and trying to find the right way to do things. The past couple of months have been brutal.”