FLORIDA — Gov. Ron Desantis has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants across the state.
Desantis announced Friday morning that Florida is moving into full Phase 3 of its reopening.
The order specifically lifts COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants.
“I’m glad it’s getting past us, I don’t think many things are going to change for us right away,” Desantis said.
Jeff Standridge is the general manager at Southern Kitchen & Bar in Jacksonville Beach.
In May, Action News Jax showed you all the changes Standridge made at the restaurant, from spaced-out tables to sanitary stations throughout the inside.
Standridge said that on Friday nights, customers will probably have to wait for a table “because of the tables we have available because of the spacing we’ve done.”
Desantis said restaurants can now operate at a minimum of 50% capacity, meaning they are fully open.
“I would say No. 1, staffing has been affected the most,” Standridge explained.
Desantis said if local governments try to restrict the reopening of any restaurant, they will need the state’s approval.
“We definitely get more of a younger following now than we did before. You have people who are anti-masks versus the ones who are full-on mask,” Standridge added.
Desantis says the state is prepared for a second wave of coronavirus but doesn’t see another shutdown happening.
The full executive order for phase three:
Cox Media Group
