Fla. Moves a Step Closer to ‘Normal’ Under Phase 2 Reopening

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Phase 2 of the state’s 3-step reopening plan will go into effect on Friday morning through Executive Order 20-139.

It doesn’t change real estate services that were already deemed essential, but it should give hope to some buyers and sellers who pulled back during the pandemic. The changes don’t apply to the South Florida counties of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, but the order allows some businesses in the counties to reopen “after each county seeks approval with a written request from the County Mayor or if no mayor the County Administrator.”

Under the executive order, bars, movie theaters, bowling alleys and concert halls are allowed to reopen. Most have some type of maximum occupancy requirements, along with general instructions to “maintain social distancing and sanitation protocols.”

In announcing the onset of Phase 2, DeSantis also warned that COVID-19 still remains a threat, and that “the virus isn’t gone.”

© 2020 Florida Realtors®