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Florida will start to reopen May 4, but for now Miami-Dade and two other counties won't be included
Walt Disney World & Universal Orlando: Theme parks would need to wait for future phases to begin reopening. Florida will look health benchmarks - including hospital bed capacity and Covid-19 testing positive rates - to decide when to move onto those steps, though the governor said that he anticipates the state doing so in "weeks, not months."
Restaurants can offer outdoor seating if tables are 6 feet apart.
"Outdoor transmission, as far as we've seen, has been more difficult than the indoor climate controlled transition," the governor said, adding that medical officials recommended the outdoor seating change.
Movie theaters can't reopen yet.
"I just think it's practically difficult to do the social distancing," the governor said. "Indoor environments I think are more likely for transmission, so even though you could have done that on phase one, I think prudence dictates that we go a little slow on that."
Bars, fitness centers and places that offer personal services, likes hair styling, also will open later.
People can schedule non-urgent surgeries again, he said, though it depends on a hospital's ability to handle surges in cases and availability of protective equipment.
Schools will continue to hold online classes, he said.
DeSantis said the new measures he announced would not include three of the counties hit hardest by coronavirus. They are Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, which account for about 6.2 million of Florida's residents.
Governor says phase 1 of reopening can begin May 4: What that means for Central Florida
“We will get Florida back on its feet by using an approach that’s safe, smart and step-by-step,” he said.
Walt Disney World & Universal Orlando:
Theme parks would need to wait for future phases to begin reopening. Florida will look health benchmarks - including hospital bed capacity and Covid-19 testing positive rates - to decide when to move onto those steps, though the governor said that he anticipates the state doing so in "weeks, not months."
He provided no details on what exactly would be included in Florida's phase two or three, which might provide more guidance as when Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and other Florida theme parks might legally be cleared to reopen to the public.
DeSantis said phase one means elective surgeries can resume, and restaurants can do outdoor seating with 6 feet between tables and 25% capacity indoors with 6-foot spacing.
He said retail can reopen as well with 25% capacity.
DeSantis said in phase one schools, bars, gyms and personal services will remain closed.
The governor said Florida would reopen in three phases in-line with the guidelines released by the White House under President Trump’s reopening America plan.
Here’s what changes and doesn’t change for Florida on May 4:
Schools continue distance learning
Visits to senior living facilities are prohibited
Elective surgeries can resume
Sports arenas and movie theaters will remain closed
Restaurants may offer outdoor seating with six feet of space between tables and indoor seating at 25% capacity
Retail stores can operate at 25% of indoor capacity
No changes for bars, gyms and personal services such as hair dressers and barbers
Vulnerable individuals should avoid close contact with people outside the home