Florida governor orders closure of all bars and nightclubs for 30 days effective Tuesday

FLORIDA — As of Tuesday at 5 p.m., all bars and nightclubs in Florida are closed. Gov. Ron DeSantis said they need to close for 30 days in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

“Last call” had special meaning on Tuesday.

“I’m trying to remain positive, but it’s kind of difficult,” said Keith Doherty, general manager at Lynch’s Irish Pub.

One major concern is their employees.

“They still have to pay their bills, they still have to feed their families,” he said.

Doherty said he’s not sure what his 50 employees are going to do during that month.

“A lot of them are tipped income, so I really feel for them. I feel for our community,” said Doherty.

But he said he’s going to do what he can help and try to stay positive.

“Give our staff as much money as we can. We are going to get on with thing,” he said.

Doherty also said they are going to be donating all of their food to the Beaches Community Kitchen.

Beaches

DeSantis is asking beachgoers in the state of Florida to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance by limiting their gatherings to no more than 10 persons.

Restaurants

Restaurants across the state will now be required to limit customer entry to 50 percent of capacity. Seating must be staggered and limited to ensure seated parties are separated by a distance of at least six feet, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Restaurants are encouraged to remain open and expand take-out and delivery services. Additional information will be provided by Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Remote learning

DeSantis also stated four students at the University of Florida tested positive for COVID-19. He is recommending for remote learning for the rest of the semester for all Florida universities.

View the news conference in the video above. Read Gov. DeSantis’ executive order below:

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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