During an afternoon news conference on Friday, June 5 at the Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center, Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner discussed plans to re-open more businesses in Palm Beach County.
“Palm Beach County is ready to go into Phase 2, but we want to do it with some particular carve outs that are necessary for the unique nature of Palm Beach County,” he said.
While most of the state has already entered Phase 2 re-openings, Palm Beach County was excluded, along with Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Earlier Friday, Kerner and County Administrator Verdenia Baker sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking for Palm Beach County to be allowed to enter Phase 2 with restrictions.
Among the restrictions: stand-alone bars that only serve alcohol and not food. “We’re not prepared to have stand-alone bars open just yet,” Kerner said.
Bars that are located inside restaurants will be allowed to operate at no more than 50 percent capacity.
Other businesses that would be allowed to re-open at 50 percent capacity include entertainment and amusement centers such as water parks, movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, zoos, bowling alleys and arcades. Retail stores, gyms and fitness centers can operate at full capacity. Personal service businesses such as tattoo studios, acupuncture clinics, tanning salons and massage establishments may also operate, but they must follow guidelines issued by the Florida Department of Health.
See the video below of the press conference announcing the plans Phase 2:
