Safe. Smart. Step-By-Step. Plan
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida’s move into Phase 2 of his Safe. Smart. Step-By-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery with Executive Order 20-139. Phase 2 applies to all counties in Florida except Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties that began June 5.
Restaurants, Bars, Pubs
Restaurants may allow bar-top seating with appropriate social distancing. Bars and pubs may operate at 50% capacity inside and full capacity outside with appropriate social distancing. Patrons may only receive service if seated.
Gyms
Gyms may operate at full capacity with appropriate social distancing and frequent sanitation.
Retail
Retail establishments may operate at full capacity with responsible social distancing and sanitation protocols.
Entertainment Businesses
Entertainment businesses, including but not limited to movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys and arcades, may operate at 50% capacity with appropriate social distancing and sanitation protocols.
Pari-Mutuel Facilities
Pari-mutuel facilities may submit a request to open to the Department of Business and Professional Regulations. The request must include an endorsement from their county mayor or county administrator if there is no mayor.
Personal Services Businesses
Personal services businesses, including but not limited to tattoo parlors, acupuncture establishments, tanning salons and massage establishments, may operate while adhering to guidance from the Florida Department of Health.
Guidance
Individuals over age 65 or with underlying medical conditions are strongly encouraged to avoid crowds and take measures to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19. All individuals that work in long-term care facilities should be tested for COVID-19 on a routine basis. All persons in Florida are encouraged to avoid congregating in groups larger than 50.
Schools Reopening
Gov. DeSantis has unveiled a plan that anticipates K-12 schools will reopen in the fall at “full capacity.” Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran says it is the state’s intention to bring teachers and students physically back to schools in the fall. He stopped short of officially announcing that schools will be fully open, but said that is what the state is planning for.
Gov. DeSantis said plans about exactly how to reopen schools will ultimately be made on the local level. The governor said opening schools is critical to the success of Florida’s economy, and the plan states “Florida can only hit its economic stride if schools are open.”
The plan outlines how nearly $475 million in education-related aid from the CARES Act will be used to help Florida schools. Below are the resources included in the $475 million aid: $64 million will be provided to close achievement gaps. A four- to five-week summer program will be implemented on school campuses for K-5 students “who have identified with a substantial deficiency in reading based on assessments and teacher recommendations.” $20 million will go toward reading curriculum and supplemental materials for grades K-3. Fifteen million will be dedicated to training 2,000 reading coaches as well as in-classroom support with the coaches. Fifty-five million is allotted for financial assistance to the childcare providers who remained open during the COVID-19 crisis and can be used toward infrastructure, personnel costs, cleaning supplies, etc. Eight million has been allotted for every student graduating in the 2020-2021 school year to take the ACT, SAT free of charge. The plan also details how the state will close achievement gaps that might have been exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic school closures. Visit the Florida Department of Education for the full plan:
www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/19861/urlt/FLDOEReopeningCARESAct.pdf.
For more information on this or COVID19 and resources, visit nicevillechamber.com/covid-19.
