DeSantis Lifts All Covid-19 Restrictions on Florida Restaurants

Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted all restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in Florida on Friday, and banned local fines against people who refuse to wear masks as he seeks to reopen the state's economy despite the spread of the coronavirus.

The Republican governor's order unleashed fresh debate in the politically divided state, where pandemic responses have become intertwined with the upcoming presidential election.

DeSantis, a major ally of President Donald Trump, acknowledged that the pandemic is far from over, but he said the threat has eased and the time has come to reopen for business.

The governor said he would stop cities and counties from collecting fines on people who don't wear face masks, virtually nullifying local mask ordinances.

Florida Democrats have bemoaned the governor's push to reopen as hasty.

Florida has long been a COVID-19 hotspot, with nearly 700,000 people infected by the virus since the pandemic began in March. Nearly 14,000 Floridians have died.

The governor reluctantly closed bars and nightclubs on St. Patrick's Day due to the outbreak, and days later, restricted restaurants to take-out dining. Amusement parks ground to a halt.

The closures battered the economy, leaving hundreds of thousands of Floridians unemployed. Since March 15, More than 2.5 million Floridians have sought unemployment benefits.

DeSantis slowly reopened the state for business since then, allowing restaurants and bars to reopen at half capacity, while deferring to local officials who advocated reopening more slowly in the pandemic's epicenters in southern Florida.

New infections have steadily declined since Florida's caseload peaked in July.

Florida added 2,847 confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, pushing the statewide total since March 1 to 695,887. The state also announced 120 new virus deaths, pushing its total to 14,038. Hospitalizations declined by 34 to 2,137 people.

The governor's announcement Friday allows restaurants across the state to immediately reopen at full capacity — and prevents cities and counties from ordering restaurants to close or operate at less than half-capacity, unless they can justify a closure for economic or health reasons.

The governor's announcement wasn't totally unexpected, although it had been unclear when he would move his state to the next phase of his reopening plan.

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[FearNoEvil]

"The further a society drifts from the truth the more it will hate those that speak it." - George Orwell, Author 1984

"It's easier to fool someone than to convince them they've been fooled." - Mark Twain, American writer

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." - William Casey, Director CIA

"The American people don't believe anything until they see it on TV." - Richard Nixon, US President

[IndustryArmyMarketin]

Finally a sensible person. Let adults be adults. Let healthy people live. This man deserves the noble peace prize ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[ItisTime]

Good for him!! I’m glad to be living in Florida. I’m also glad that my governor is not a sheep.

[zaac]

DeSantis- second biggest balls in america( big T is first), first in florida

[randyroggenbuck]

Many cities in Florida are very unhappy with the Governor right now. He just announced going to phase 3 without giving any notice to the city's on how to handle masks rules, social distancing or anything else. So the bars, restaurants, gyms and other places what information about how they can operate at 100% when the city's aren't ready for this kind of plan yet. So you see why the city's are a little bit mad at the Governor right now, because he dropped something in their laps without talking to them first

[megamotor]

Good, if you don't want to get sick then you can stay in your home - you know, the same thing you demanded everyone else do for months.

[jer]

Thank you Governor! The government should not be deciding whether we're 'allowed' to make a living or not.

[EntirelyObsolete-smrn]

Makes me want to move back to FL. I haven't met a single person to have covid but I personally know at least 6 families that have left IL in the last month because of its total failure due to the plandemic and corrupt leadership. F your masks, F your non-laws, and F your experimental vaccine for a virus with a 99%+ rate of survival.

[didsicle]

Finally someone on TV with some sense. Thank you Florida Governor! Time for all you protester to get back to work! 🇺🇸

[ajlee]

Governor DeSantis, you are a great Governor of the state of FLORIDA, you understand the situation of having a business in your home state of Florida, you know restaurants business is a tougher business than a grocery stores, thank you very much for being such a great Governor and for there for the restaurant owners

[vendettam]

bravo! finally this people are talking sense

[YAH-]

I'm waiting for him to say, no more wearing 😷

[luis-alvarez]

Bravo !!!finally one intelligent and human politician who listens to common sense

[williamhaugem]

WOW a Bloomberg with more likes than dislikes

[TeamTrapEater]

I hope the citizens of florida are smart and don’t just go out and kill themselves. It’s sad that even their own governor doesnt want to protect his own people from a deadly virus. It’s all fun and games until someone you know is infected and dies and you cannot bury them properly or mourn properly because of this pandemic. You will eventually open your eyes when it affects you or someone you love. My step fathers uncle passed away due to COVID-19. Can’t bury him properly or mourn because of this pandemic. You will all think differently when someone you love dies because of this virus. I pray to all my fellow floridians wear masks and protect themselves and others around them. Don’t let the government stray you away from what’s really going on with this pandemic.

[Dan]

So happy to hear someone willing to bring their state in the positive direction!!!! GOOD FOR HIM!!

[philzy]

Open the country! If your gonna get it your gonna get it.

[s.leemccauley]

Folks have the right to not go if it bothers them. Just saying.

[miketheyunggod]

This is how it’s done. Our bodies! Our choice!

[ingridarlington]

About time. We've been open in Kansas and Missori since June!