Florida Will Soon Allow Restaurants To Operate At Full Capacity, Gov. DeSantis Says

Topline

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to lift restrictions on seating capacity at restaurants, making it the largest state to do so, the Republican said Thursday.

Key Facts

Critical Quote

“I don’t think that the closure of restaurants has been particularly effective,” DeSantis said. “They’re not going to be able to be closed by locals anymore, and they’ll be able to operate at the capacity that they’re comfortable with.”

Tangent

The only states with a larger population than Florida are Texas and California. Restaurants in Texas have now been allowed to reopen at 75% capacity, after Gov. Greg Abbott (R) had earlier rolled back capacities, while California allows different levels of capacity throughout the state, but at the best, no more than 50% of normal indoor seating. Indiana will move to 100% capacity at restaurants and bars starting Saturday. Indiana also has a statewide mask mandate.

Key Background

Florida was among the fastest states to reopen its economy this spring, and DeSantis budged little on closing businesses down again, even as coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths soared. 

Big Number

13,795. That’s how many Florida residents have died of Covid-19, according to the state, as of Thursday.

Further Reading

Florida Shatters National Record With Over 15,000 New Coronavirus Cases (Forbes)

Florida Shatters Record For New Coronavirus Cases, Orders Bars To Close (Forbes)

Florida To Reopen Bars At 50% Capacity (Forbes)

DeSantis says he’ll lift restaurant capacity restrictions soon (Orlando Sentinel)

All States With Democratic Governors Now Have Mask Mandates, But Most With Republicans Don’t (Forbes)

Bar Owners Sue Texas Governor To Reverse Order To Close Again (Forbes)

Indiana Restaurants and Bars Get Green Light to Open at Full Capacity (Eater)

Florida Governor: ‘We’re Not Shutting Down’ After Record Coronavirus Infection Spike (Forbes)