Just In: Read Governor’s Order Closing Restaurants, Bars, Etc.
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 20-70
(Emergency Management – COVID-19 – Broward and Palm Beach County Closures)
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-51 directing the Florida Department of Health to issue a Public Health Emergency; and
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer declared a Public Health Emergency exists in the State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, President Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued the “15 Days to Slow the Spread” guidance advising individuals to adopt far-reaching social distancing measures, such as avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, and in states with evidence of community spread, bars, restaurants, food courts, and gyms should be closed; and
WHEREAS, my Administration has consulted with Broward County and Palm Beach County authorities, both of which requested application of the CDC recommendations; and
WHEREAS, COVID-19 poses a health risk to Broward County and Palm Beach County residents and minimization of contact is necessary to avoid COVID-19 infection for the residents of the counties; and
WHEREAS, restaurants, bars, taverns, pubs, night clubs, banquet halls, cocktail lounges, cabarets, breweries, cafeterias, movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys, arcades, gymnasiums, fitness studios and beaches are potential gathering places for the spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Broward County and Palm Beach County seek to harmonize with Miami-Dade County which has already restricted access to venues and closed its beaches to public access due to the risk of community spread; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate to take action to ensure that COVID-19 remains controlled, and that residents and visitors in Florida remain safe and secure;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section (1)(a) of the Florida Constitution, Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, and all other applicable laws, promulgate the following Executive Order to take immediate effect:
Section 1. I hereby order all restaurants, bars, taverns, pubs, night clubs, banquet halls, cocktail lounges, cabarets, breweries, cafeterias and any other alcohol and/or food service business establishment with seating for more than ten (10) people within the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Broward County and Palm Beach County to close on-premises service of customers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such establishments may operate their kitchens for the purpose of providing delivery services, as authorized in Section 3 below, and employees, janitorial personnel, contractors and delivery personnel shall be allowed access to such establishments.
Section 2. This order shall not apply to grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and convenience stores, except that those discrete portions of such establishments that provide alcohol and/or food service with seating for more than ten (10) people shall abide by the restrictions in Section 1.
Section 3. This order shall not apply to delivery services, pick-up or take out services provided by any of the establishments listed in Sections 1 or 2.
Section 4. This order shall not apply to restaurants that are ancillary to essential services, including the airports, port facilities, secure facilities and hospitals. Other essential services may be determined by the county administrators.
Section 5. All movie theatres, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys, arcades, gymnasiums, fitness studios and beaches shall close. This order shall not apply to gymnasiums or fitness centers which are: (i) amenities of hotels which have a capacity of 10 persons or less, (ii) are an amenity of a residential building, (iii) are interior to any fire or police stations or (iv) are located inside any single-occupant office building.
Section 6. The closures in this order shall remain in effect in accordance with the President’s “15 Days to Slow the Spread”, initiated on March 16, 2020. These closures shall expire on March 31, 2020, but may be renewed upon the written request of the County Administrator.
Section 7. The Broward County Administrator and the Palm Beach County Administrator shall have the ability to enforce, relax, modify or remove these closures, as warranted, pursuant to the directives and parameters as set forth in Executive Order 20-68.
Section 8. The provisions of this order shall serve as minimum standards. Municipalities may impose more stringent standards within their jurisdictions.
March 20th, 2020 at 4:34 pm
And yet in Publix in Wilton Manors TODAY n YESTERDAY a Trumpist employee was telling snother older White guy the Coronovirus Emgerency is OVERHYPED!!
March 21st, 2020 at 8:22 am
Good for Governor for his leadership in coping with the virus. Good for Dean Trantalis for demonstrating leadership in this extremely difficult time.
Where is the honorary Mayor of Broward County, Dale Holness? Must be still wrapped up in the overwhelming issue of renaming Dixie Highway.
FROM BUDDY:
Dean Trantalis is the definition of a leader. He is doing a terrific job in difficult times.
March 21st, 2020 at 10:25 am
I guess we will have to wait at least a year to determine if this issue is either over hyped or too political, time usually tells….
March 21st, 2020 at 10:49 am
Jared Moskowitz has done a superb job in the crisis as director of Emergency Management. We should all applaud the governor for appointing Moskowitz, who is a Democrat by the way.
FROM BUDDY:
He is also a former Parkland, Fl commissioner.
March 21st, 2020 at 12:22 pm
As someone WHO ACTUALLY HAS WATCHED Trump n Trantalis look at critical issues, IT IS ASHAME TRANTALIS n NOT TRUMP is making National Coronovirus Decisions. Can you imagine Mayor Trantalis calling a Coronovirus a “Chinese” vircus insulting one of if not our largest investor/trading partners? And arguing MEDICINE WITH DR FAUCI?
Thank Heavens we have a class act NOT A CLOWN heading our City
March 21st, 2020 at 2:28 pm
FROM BUDDY:
Dean Trantalis is the definition of a leader. He is doing a terrific job in difficult times.
As the fecal matter flows down the streets and into the waterways.
March 21st, 2020 at 5:58 pm
#3 Zig ARE YOU NUTS? Overhyped? Are you like the two old White Farts in Publix WHO DONT BELIEVE DR ANTHONY FAUCI BUT DONALD TRUMP?
March 21st, 2020 at 7:44 pm
#2 U stated where is Mayor Holeness.Unlike Miami Dade county he does not have the power/authority like the mayor of miami/ Dade.The county mayor can issue what stays open/ closed while Holeness hands r tied and this type of ordering what stays open/ closed is up to the cities w/in the county.When this is all said and done(virus) this Broward county charter needs to take a hard look at this.The Broward county charter which Mayor Holeness must abide by needs to be reexamined.If it means going to the resident voters to change the Charter then so be it.Total different ball game in Dade.Dade has much more authority/ power when what athe mayor in Broward has.This should change.
March 22nd, 2020 at 8:10 am
This was way too late by DeSantis. It was nearly a week after every other state did this. We will have tens of thousands infected in Florida now because of this delay. Dean has done a better job for us than DeSantis. Same for Hollywood taking steps like closing the beaches when DeSantis refused to act.
March 23rd, 2020 at 1:31 pm
Holness is the only elected official I know of in the WORLD who replies to e mails with an automatic I dont read e mails CONTACT STAFF! Even Donald Putin n the Queen of England reply to e mails!
March 23rd, 2020 at 4:20 pm
@ 10
Please provide your email address so we can reply to your drivel.
March 24th, 2020 at 10:42 am
#11 people who dont sign their names to what they write ARE EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK THEY ARE – not describable with words fit for descent people to read.