Florida begins phase 3 of reopening
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced yesterday that the state would enter Phase 3 of its COVID-19 reopening plan, but this executive order is different from previously issued orders that gave local governments ample freedom to implement stricter rules.
The order that allows the immediate reopening of all businesses and also limits local powers. With regard to restaurants, the text says that restaurants, including any establishment with a license for food services, cannot be limited to less than 50% occupancy of their maximum internal capacity.
In addition, “If a restaurant is limited to less than one hundred percent (100%) of its internal capacity”, by any local orders, those orders must “quantify the economic impact of each limitation or requirement in those restaurants” and “explain why that each limitation or requirement is necessary for public health. ”
The order also “suspends the collection of fines and penalties associated with COVID-19 applied to individuals,” including fines for non-compliance with masked warrants.
