Florida moving into phase 2 of reopening on Friday

WHAT TO EXPECT. CHRIS: THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT WILL BE SAFE ENOUGH FRIDAY TO SEE A MOVIE IN THEATERS AS LONG AS THE PLACES THAT HAVE CAPACITY. PHASE 2 ALLOWS BARS, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND PERSONAL CARE BUSINESSES TO REOPEN AFTER MONTHS OF COVID-19 RELATED CLOSURES. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS ANNOUNCED THE STEPS BACK TO A PRE-CORONAVIRUS ECONOMY AT A WEDNESDAY PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT. >> OUTDOOR SEATING WITH SOCIAL DISTANCE. A CERTAIN AMOUNT INDOORS BUT YOU’RE SEATED TO BE SERVED. I MEAN PEOPLE GO THEY HAVE A DRINK, THAT’S FINE. WE WANT TO KIND OF NOT HAVE HUGE CROWDS PILING IN. CHRIS: PHASE 2 STARTS FRIDAY. HOWEVER, ORLANDO AREA LEADERS ARE NOT SAYING WHETHER THE MANDATORY CURFEW TO CURB PROTESTS WILL BE LIFTED IN TIME FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY A DRINK ON THE WEEKEND. >> WE WILL REVISIT THE USEFULNESS OF A 8:00 P.M. CURFEW ON A DAILY BASIS. FOR NOW, IT’S IN PLACE INDEFINITELY, BUT WE WILL MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT ON A DAILY BASIS. CHRIS: RETAIL WILL RETURN TO FULL CAPACITY, RESTAURANTS CAN HAVE PEOPLE SITTING AT THE BAR, AND BARS WILL OPEN BACK UP AT HALF CAPACITY. GYMS WILL BE BACK TO FULL CAPACITY, THEATERS AND BOWLING ALLEYS CAN REOPEN AT HALF CAPACITY. TATTOO ARTISTS AND MASSEUSES WILL BE BACK IN BUSINESS. SPORTS VENUES WILL REOPEN AND DESANTIS IS HINTING AT ORLANDO POSSIBLY BEING THE SOLE HOST OF A SHORTENED NBA SEASON. >> ORLANDO CAN REALLY BE THE EPICENTER OF THE COMEBACK OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS. CHRIS: ARCADES WILL ALSO REOPEN AT HALF CAPACITY DURING PHAS

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that Florida will be moving into a second phase of reopening that will allow bars to reopen. The order will be signed today and take effect on Friday, DeSantis said. DeSantis made his announcement at Universal Orlando Resort, which opened to passholders for Wednesday and Thursday, and will open to the public on Friday.The phase two reopening does not include Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. In Florida’s other 64 counties, restaurants can now seat people at a bar, and bars and pubs can open at 50% capacity with social distancing and sanitation.“You’re seated to get served. People go, enjoy, have a drink, that’s fine, We want to kind of not have huge crowds piling in,” DeSantis said.Retail establishments may operate at full capacity, movie theaters and bowling alleys can open at 50% capacity. Florida allowed restaurants and retail shops to open at 25% capacity on May 4 and expanded that later in the month.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that Florida will be moving into a second phase of reopening that will allow bars to reopen.

The order will be signed today and take effect on Friday, DeSantis said. DeSantis made his announcement at Universal Orlando Resort, which opened to passholders for Wednesday and Thursday, and will open to the public on Friday.

The phase two reopening does not include Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

In Florida’s other 64 counties, restaurants can now seat people at a bar, and bars and pubs can open at 50% capacity with social distancing and sanitation.

“You’re seated to get served. People go, enjoy, have a drink, that’s fine, We want to kind of not have huge crowds piling in,” DeSantis said.

Retail establishments may operate at full capacity, movie theaters and bowling alleys can open at 50% capacity.

Florida allowed restaurants and retail shops to open at 25% capacity on May 4 and expanded that later in the month.

Florida moving into phase 2 of reopening on Friday

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

Top Picks