Jason Delgado
Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Tuesday that Florida may be inching toward a Phase 3 reopening.
Speaking to reporters from the Space Coast, the Governor raised the possibility after unveiling a new VISIT FLORIDA tourism campaign. The $13 million campaign is designed jumpstart Florida’s stalled tourism industry.
“We got to just be a little bit more dynamic,” DeSantis said. “Some of those rigid phases were done in April. We’ve learned a lot since then. In this part of Florida, there’s not a whole lot that folks – I think they can do pretty much do whatever they need to.”
Florida, at a time, was one of the most heavily impacted states in the country. In recent weeks, however, COVID-19 testing data – which the Governor expresses skepticism toward – has suggested the region is improving.
State health officials reported 2,402 COVID-19 cases and 128 resident deaths on Wednesday, a significant improvement from weeks past. Additionally, Florida’s daily positive tests and daily positivity rate are also declining. Wednesday’s rate was 5.6%, down slightly from Monday’s 5.7%. The average seven-day positivity rate is 5.5%
Monday, notably, marked the COVID-19 pandemic’s sixth-month mark.
“We’re going to look at some certain sectors in hospitality, particularly like restaurant and bars about how to do that,” DeSantis added. “My sense is some of these rigid capacity requirements probably aren’t necessary at this point. I think people understand how to distance, how to do different things.”
The Governor also pointed to Central Florida, where Disney and Universal have managed to relaunch without an impact to the state’s COVID-19 cases. He suggested the theme parks could safety accommodate more guests.
“I think it just shows that you can do these things,” DeSantis said. “You can put people back to work and keep society strong.”
Tourism in 2019 accounted for more than 1.5 million jobs and $91 billion in revenue. In the second quarter of 2020, however, Florida visitation has spiraled by more than 60%.
13 comments
EM Owens
September 3, 2020 at 11:41 am
Awful idea🤬🤬🤬With the upcoming Labor Day weekend approaching, the majority of people going to the beach No Social Distancing, having parties, cookouts etc., No social distancing! With all these mass gatherings many won’t be wearing masks & No Social distances, Covid 19 will be spreading like wildfires & this will be a major setback fo Florida & other surrounding states! Awful idea! Push back on phase 3 until after the election!
SANDRA OLIVA
September 3, 2020 at 9:07 pm
LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE, just like trump’s
James Robert Miles
September 3, 2020 at 3:36 pm
DeSatan is just another Trump butt kissing Republican who does NOT care about the lives that maybe lost as a result of his lousy decision. His only interest is that there is money to be made and who cares about how many might die as a result! Republicans are the real death panelists!
SANDRA OLIVA
September 3, 2020 at 10:09 pm
How ghoulish would it be to suggest that trump is deliberately “thinning out the crop” of Americans, esp. those in jail, those very old, etc? It kind of fits his character, doesn’t it? That he has caused us to consider that of him just shows how far our experience with him has come toward thinking of such bizarre happenstances COULD BE REAL!
All I know is that We Have GOT To Do MUCH MORE VETTING OF OUR NEXT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: IQ TESTS, MEMORY TESTS, KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CONSTITUTION (WHICH ALSO NEEDS TIGHTENING–UNBIASED TRUST DOESN’T CUT THE MUSTARD ANYMORE); KNOWLEDGE OF GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY,POLICIES; DIPLOMACY, MULTIPLE, ANNUAL LIE DETECTOR TESTS; HEALTH TESTS RESULTS REVEALED TO THE PUBLIC……ETC. NO MORE PICKING A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITH SLEAZY BACKGROUND AND MAFIA FRIENDS! FULL CHARACTER ANALYSES. WE SHOULD DO NO LESS. AMERICA SHOULD NOT BE TREATED TO OFFICIALS WITHOUT FULL VETTING, OR JUST BECAUSE THEY SHOW UP..LIKE TRUMP DID. WE HAVE BEEN WARNED, AMERICA!
SANDRA OLIVA
September 3, 2020 at 10:12 pm
How ghoulish would it be to suggest that trump is deliberately “thinning out the crop” of Americans, esp. those in jail, those very old, etc? It kind of fits his character, doesn’t it? That he has caused us to consider that of him just shows how far our experience with him has come toward thinking of such bizarre happenstances COULD BE REAL!
All I know is that We Have GOT To Do MUCH MORE VETTING OF OUR NEXT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: IQ TESTS, MEMORY TESTS, KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CONSTITUTION (WHICH ALSO NEEDS TIGHTENING–UNBIASED TRUST DOESN’T CUT THE MUSTARD ANYMORE); KNOWLEDGE OF GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY,POLICIES; DIPLOMACY, MULTIPLE, ANNUAL LIE DETECTOR TESTS; HEALTH TESTS RESULTS REVEALED TO THE PUBLIC……ETC. NO MORE PICKING A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITH SLEAZY BACKGROUND AND MAFIA FRIENDS! FULL CHARACTER ANALYSES. WE SHOULD DO NO LESS. AMERICA SHOULD NOT BE TREATED TO OFFICIALS WITHOUT FULL VETTING, OR JUST BECAUSE THEY SHOW UP..LIKE TRUMP DID. WE HAVE BEEN WARNED, AMERICA!
****YOUR “MONITORS” NEED TO HAVE THEIR BRAINS TRIMMED SINCE I HAVE NOT “SAID THIS BEFORE” AND I AND ALL HAVE RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH–NO OBSCENITIES ETC. ssO GO BACK AND READ THE 1ST AMENDMENT!
Janet
September 3, 2020 at 7:36 pm
There is no interpretation of the testing data that leads to these low positivity numbers. From the state’s own report today, the positive rate was 14.9%. Look at the day to day numbers!! The DOH refuses to explain their flawed calculations. They just lie.
Ernest Dempsey
September 4, 2020 at 2:07 pm
Plandemic has been exposed worldwide. Open the state immediately and hold those responsible for keeping people locked and robed of their rights.
Darnell
September 4, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Desantis is an idiot and grossly mishandled Covid-19 for his desires and wants. His stupid wife said in April when he opened camps his kids wouldn’t be going but, encouraged kids to go cause he believes its safe. He’s a Trump puppet and doesn’t have His own mind. He’s weak and an embarrassment.
Sonja Fitch
September 4, 2020 at 3:39 pm
What are the school trumpvirus nimbers? The hippa bs is just bs! Dashboard by school and sites! What are you hiding Duffus Desantis ? How many of our children have you killed?
Odalys Garcia
September 11, 2020 at 2:44 pm
This is genocide!!!
Harvey
September 11, 2020 at 5:44 pm
where’s the funding for schools to even have a chance to open safely and remain open safely?
Allow me to provide at least a partial answer–The Republican Senate and there unwillingness to pass a stimulus bill that would fund Rapid Response testing twice a week for all teachers, students and staff, similar to what they are doing at the University of Illinois
Anonymous HS Teacher
September 12, 2020 at 4:23 am
As a teacher in Florida, it is so sad. There is really NO SOCIAL DISTANCING happening in school. No sanitization after positive cases. The district is lying about how many teachers were positive and also when children get sent home and then later test positive. It’s terrible. So yeah, it’s okay to open everything bc the data is screwed and not telling the truth.
Nancy Wallace
September 13, 2020 at 9:43 am
Mine won’t go to a brick and mortar. I have auto immune deficiency. I am protecting mine even if I have to send them to a relative out of Florida.
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