Plan for Florida’s Recovery – Phase 1 Recovery

• Florida
• Business
• Employment
• Food
• Health
• Miscellaneous

Pursuant to Executive Orders 20-112, 20-120, 20-123, and 20-131 Governor DeSantis announced guidance for reopening restaurants, retail establishments, gyms and fitness centers, professional sports venues, amusement parks, vacation rentals, organized youth activities, museums and libraries, elective surgery providers, barbershops, cosmetology salons, and cosmetology specialty salons.  Businesses should check for additional restrictions and guidance at the city and county level.

Subject to any contrary guidance from the city or county:

• Beginning May 4, hospital ambulatory surgical centers, office surgery centers, dental offices, orthodontic offices, endodontic offices or other health care practitioners’ offices may resume providing elective procedures, provided that they meet the following criteria:

• The facility has the capacity to immediately convert additional facility-identified surgical and intensive care beds for treatment of COVID-19 patients in a surge capacity situation;

• The facility has adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to complete all medical procedures and respond to COVID-19 treatment needs, without the facility seeking any additional federal or state assistance regarding PPE supplies;

• The facility has not sought any additional federal, state, or local government assistance regarding PPE supplies since resuming elective procedures; and

• The facility has not refused to provide support to and proactively engage with skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and other long-term care residential providers.

• Beginning May 11, 2020, barbershops, cosmetology salons, and cosmetology specialty salons that adopt appropriate social distancing and precautionary measures may reopen.

• Beginning May 18, 2020, restaurants may offer outdoor seating with appropriate social distancing and indoor seating at 50 percent building capacity. Appropriate social distancing requires maintaining a minimum of 6 feet between parties, only seating parties of 10 or fewer people and keeping bar counters closed to seating.

• Beginning May 18, 2020, in-store retail sales establishments may open storefronts if they operate at no more than 50 percent of their building occupancy and abide by the safety guidelines issued by the CDC and OSHA.

• Beginning May 18, museums and libraries may open at no more than 50 percent of their building occupancy, provided, however, that (a) local public museums and local public libraries may operate only if permitted by local government, and (b) any components of museums or libraries that have interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas, remain closed.

• Beginning May 18, gyms and fitness centers may operate up to 50 percent of their building occupancy so long as they adopt safety measures including appropriate social distancing for classes and sufficient cleaning supplies to ensure, at a minimum, patrons’ individual self-cleaning of surfaces and machines using sanitation wipes following each use.

• Beginning May 18, professional sports may operate in Florida and venues may host training, competitions, events and games. This provision shall preempt any local rule prohibiting a professional sports team conducting, or the operations of the venue from hosting, those sports activities at facilities in Florida.

• As of May 18, amusement parks may submit a re-opening plan to the State of Florida that includes a proposed date for resumption of operations and proposed guidelines to ensure guest and staff safety. Requests to re-open must include an endorsement letter from the County Mayor or in absence of a county mayor from the City Mayor and County Administrator. This request shall 2 identify a future date certain for re-opening and verify that the official has approved a re-open plan to ensure patron and staff safety.

• As of May 18, counties may seek approval to operate vacation rentals with a written request from the County Administrator and the county’s safety plan for vacation rental operations submitted to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary.

• Beginning May 22, organized youth activities may operate, including youth sports teams and leagues, youth clubs and programs, and child care. Summer camps and youth recreation camps may operate including, but not limited to, those defined 409.175 and 513.02, Florida Statutes, respectively.

Government or Lead Agency

Office of the Governor

Dates Available

Beginning May 4, 2020, May 11, 2020, May 18, 2020, and May 22, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Applies to restaurants, retail establishments, gyms and fitness centers, professional sports venues, amusement parks, vacation rentals, organized youth activities, museums and libraries, elective surgery providers, barbershops, cosmetology salons, and cosmetology specialty salons. Check any city or county guidance.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/plan-for-floridas-recovery/

List of Additional Information

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html