Escambia County will follow Executive Order 20-111 and Executive Order 20-112, announced yesterday by Gov. DeSantis.
Executive Order 20-111 and Executve Orders 20-112 extend Executive Orders 20-87 (vacation rental closures) until further notice. Executive Order 20-111 and Executive Order 20-112 continue to permit the essential services and activities described in Executive Order 20-91.
Executive Order 20-112 also extends Executive Order 20-69 regarding local government meetings utilizing technology while meeting the requirements of the Sunshine Law.
Executive Order 20-112, regarding the Governor’s plan for Phase 1: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery, begins Monday, May 4, with Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties excluded at this time.
Phase I includes the following:
- Schools: Schools remain distance learning.
- Senior Living Facilities: Visits to senior living facilities are prohibited.
- Elective Surgeries: Elective surgeries can resume.
- Restaurants: Restaurants may offer outdoor seating with six foot space between tables and indoor seating at 25% capacity.
- Retail: Retail can operate at 25% of indoor capacity.
- Museums and libraries: Museums and libraries may open at no more than 25 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.
- Bars, gyms and personal services such as hair dressers: No change for bars, gyms and personal services such as hair dressers.
- Vulnerable individuals: Vulnerable individuals should avoid close contact with people outside the home.
- All individuals:
- All individuals, when in public, should maximize physical distance from others.
- Avoid socializing in groups of more than 10 people in circumstances that do not readily allow for physical distancing.
- Face masks are recommended for all those in face-to-face interactions and where you can't social distance.
- Travel: Executive Order 20-112 states that all persons in Florida should adhere to the following travel guidelines:
- Avoid nonessential travel, including to U.S. states and cities outside of Florida with a significant presence of COVID-19.
- Adhere to guidelines from the CDC regarding isolation for 14 days following travel on a cruise or from any international destination and any area with a significant presence of COVID-19.
At the press conference Wednesday announcing the plan, Gov. DeSantis emphasized the importance of focusing on the facts and not fear as the state moves to re-open safely and deliberately with the following steps:
- Protect the vulnerable
- Increase testing
- Promote social distancing
- Support hospitals and protect healthcare workers
- Prevent introduction from outside the state
In regards to the next steps, the state will consider the following key metrics:
- The state maintains the health benchmarks of the Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step Plan
- Maintaining hospital bed capacity
- Monitoring COVID-19 test positivity rate
The state emphasizes that this does not need to take months, that it will be based in health metrics and guided by medical authorities.
Answers to frequently asked questions relating to Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-112 are available HERE.
