Florida to Enter Phase 2 of Reopening

Most Florida Counties to Begin Phase 2 Reopening on Friday, June 5

Effective June 5, 2020, at 12:01 AM: Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-139, which allows Florida to enter Phase 2 Recovery and Reopening plan for all counties EXCEPT for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. For those counties to enter Phase 2, they are required to submit a plan for doing so, which must be approved by the state. This is consistent with the Phase 1 opening procedure.

Executive Order 20-139

The information detailing allowable activities in Phase 2 begins on p. 38 of the Governor's PowerPoint Presentation.

Governor's PowerPoint Presentation

For the remaining 64 counties statewide, the Phase 2 reopening provisions include the following guidelines related to responsible individual activity.

• Social Distancing and safety protocol requirements remain in effect
• Senior citizens and individuals with a significant underlying medical condition are strongly encouraged to avoid crowds and take measures to limit risk exposure
• All are encouraged to avoid groups of 50 or more
• All who work in long-term care facilities should be tested for Covid-19 on a routine basis
• In-store retail businesses, including gyms and fitness centers, should maintain appropriate social distancing and sanitation protocols.

Additionally, E.O. 20-139 delineates the following related to allowable activities:

• Extends current requirements for isolation and screening of individuals traveling to Florida but provides limited exceptions for:  persons involved in commercial activity and students traveling for academic work, internships, sports training, and any other activity or program approved by the educational institution.
• Allows bars and pubs to operate at 50% capacity inside and at full capacity outside with appropriate social distancing.  Patrons must be seated to receive service.
• Allows restaurants to utilize bar top seating with appropriate social distancing.
• Removes the 50% capacity limitation on in-store retail and allows operation at full capacity with appropriate social distancing.
• Removes the 50% capacity limitation at gyms and allows operation at full capacity with appropriate social distancing and sanitation.
• Removes the 50% capacity limitation at museums and libraries as well as the requirement for local government authorization to open. 
• Allows entertainment businesses, including but not limited to movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys, and arcades, to operate at 50% capacity with appropriate social distancing measures in place.
• Allows Pari-Mutuel facilities to submit a request to reopen to the Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, provided that the request is accompanied by a written endorsement by the County Mayor or, if no mayor, the County Administrator.
• Allows all personal services to operate, including tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture, tanning, and massage, with appropriate safety guidelines as outlined by the Department of Health.
• Extends E.O. 20-69 through June 30, 2020. This order allowed for virtual local government meetings.

SEFAA is actively monitoring updates and will share any new developments or information as it's made available. Please let us know if you have any questions or if you require any additional information.