On Friday, September 25, 2020, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-244 as a part of the state’s phase 3 re-opening. The Order states that “No COVID-19 emergency ordinance may prevent an individual from working or from operating a business.” As a result, a local government (county or city) may NOT prohibit a business from operating solely for COVID-19 reasons.

The Order also:

1. Effectively provides that restaurants can operate with no seating capacity limitations and without any other COVID-19-related restrictions on hours of operation, service of alcohol, or occupancy. If a local government issues an order that does further limit capacity, it must do so only with evidence of the economic impact to the business and how the limitation is necessary for public health.

2. Suspends any local COVID-related fines and penalties as to any individuals.

What the Order does NOT change:

1. The Order does not eliminate any local face mask orders that are in place. Those local face mask orders remain in place unless they are changed by the city or county.

2. The Order does not mean a business should discard its COVID-19 Response Plan, but should review and revise, as warranted. It is important that you continue to review local COVID-19 orders from your city and county regarding emergency orders, including the wearing of face masks (Hillsborough County Order; Pinellas County Order; City of Tampa Order; City of St. Petersburg Order; Pasco County Order) . Some of the local orders have unique provisions that allow for local governments to enforce the order against businesses – and those provisions would remain in effect even with the state Order 20-244. For example, the City of Tampa order mandates businesses to implement minimum “reasonable efforts” to require customers to wear face masks on their premises.

As a reminder, your response plan/written action plan should:

1. Address state and local governments’ expectations of your business.

2. Address the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol specific to your industry.

3. Include your business’s policies and procedures.

4. Be communicated to and posted where it’s easily accessible by employees and customers. 5. Notify employees that if they have symptoms they are not to come to work.