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“Low-risk” businesses could get green light first in Florida’s re-opening

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Businesses considered “low risk” could likely be the first to be given the green light to reopen.

Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez said the number one priority is to make decisions based on data.

The process of reopening Florida’s economy is beginning to take shape as local and state leaders try to work out a plan.

Action News Jax spoke with Nuñez via Skype Thursday, she forms part of the Re-open Florida Task Force.

“Our focus as the executive committee is doing their due diligence and as the governor starts to consider what facets of Florida’s economy to reopen,” said Nuñez.

She said it’s not about reopening one sector over another first.

They’re looking to public health data to drive their decisions.

“What does the public health data show? What are the recommendations that we see that are going to continue to help us to contain this virus?” she said.

Instead of looking at essential or non-essential, the task force is examining businesses based on risk level.

“A business that the employees don’t come into close contact with each other, the customers don’t come into close contact with the employees,” said Nuñez.

Those first waves of businesses to re-open will need to put an emphasis on social distancing, sanitization, and employee screenings.

“A barbershop is very different than a retail store which is very different than perhaps a store where you go get your cell phone,” she said.

Local governments will also play a critical role.

“In Duval County, the case count is but a fraction of the case count in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach and so the CDC themselves have said that reopening the United States is really going to take on a county by county approach,” she said.

The lieutenant governor said her biggest concern continues to be the elderly population.

She said they’re taking a special look at those 65 and up to find ways to protect them as the economy reopens.