Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis began the first phase of reopening the state this week — after ordering all but essential businesses and activities to close down on April 3.
The new “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step” order institutes a phase one reopening throughout the state, except in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Under phase one, schools will remain in distance learning through the end of the school year, and no visitors will be allowed to long-term facilities — as has been the case.
But, the first phase does allow:
- Elective surgeries
- Outdoor dining at restaurants, with 6 feet between tables; and indoor dining, at 25% capacity
- Retail shopping at 25% capacity, and businesses must follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention distancing guidelines
The first phase of the governor’s order does not allow reopening of movie theaters, gyms, bars or hair salons.
The state is taking deliberate steps in reopening, DeSantis said, in a televised news conference.
“It will not be like turning off a switch,” he said.
He expects the state to move from one phase to the next, in a matter of weeks not months, unless the data indicates otherwise.
“If we’re making progress, we need to continue to put people back to work in a safe, smart and step-by-step way,” DeSantis said.
“The government needs to protect health, but we should not go beyond what is necessary to do that,” he said.
“This current crisis has impacted — one way or another — all 21 ½ million Floridians in life-changing ways,” the governor said.
He said some small businesses have seen their life’s work “practically devastated overnight.
“Working parents have had to juggle the new reality of distance learning, all the while trying to put food on the table.
“Our kids have not seen their friends from school for at least six weeks. School sports and plays and activities have gone up in smoke — depriving kids of some of the best times in their lives.
“Traditional graduations have been cancelled, and so have senior proms. These moments, will be forever lost.
“And, of course, our kids haven’t been able to see their grandparents,” he said.
DeSantis urged those most vulnerable to protect themselves.
“If you’re 65 and up, if you have a significant underlying condition, you need to avoid crowds, avoid close contact with people outside your household. Stay home as much as you can,” he said.
He asked others to help protect them, too.
“The most important social distancing we can do is to distance the most vulnerable from those who are not. Because if you’re not vulnerable, you may be a carrier of this and not have symptoms or not know it, and you have a risk to pass it along,” he said.
In general, social groups should remain 10 or fewer, he said.
The governor also recommends that individuals wear face masks, when they are in face-to-face interactions and when they cannot maintain a safe social distance.
Pasco County reopenings
The Pasco County Commission is following the governor’s guidelines, in slowly reopening county locations, with limited services.
“The county, as a whole, is in a good place to get ready to start cracking back open,” County Administrator Dan Biles said during an April 24 virtual town hall meeting, hosted by Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.
The county has already opened some areas for recreation and plans to use a phased approach for reopening libraries, Biles said.
“Our customer service counters are probably going to stay the way they are for a while.
“Whether you come in and drop something off, and we come and then we come pick it up. Or, drive-thru only, like our utility service areas.
“Operationally, we have probably a quarter of the county, to a third of the county, working from home, right now, and they stay working from home, until we get to a phase two or phase three,” Biles said.
The arrangement is working so well for some staffers that they may be able to continue working at home, even after the restrictions are lifted, Biles said.
The county already has reopened the West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility, the East Paco Transfer Station and the standalone recyclables drop-off locations for residential waste and recycling disposal. The change restores services that previously limited residential drop-offs, between April 4 and April 25.
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s offices re-opened on May 4 for in-person lobby services.
Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Gulf Harbors and Wesley Chapel offices will be open on Saturdays beginning May 9 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, for Pasco County residents only.
Each office will maintain social distancing standards, such as limiting the number of individuals allowed in the office at one time.
Dealers may drop off and pick up work through the VIN check/drive-thru Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. No over-the -counter dealer work will be permitted.
To protect themselves and those around them customers are requested to wear face masks if at all possible. For more information, visit PascoTaxes.com.
Emergency leaders in Hillsborough County also have announced they will align the community’s COVID-19 recovery with the governor’s plan, and will not take more restrictive actions.
Keep yourself safe
Pasco County continues to encourage individuals to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and Florida Department of Health (DOH) guidelines and best practices. Those include:
- Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people
- Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet
- Use online service options, when available
- Stay home if you feel sick, and contact your medical provider
- Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, using soap and water. When that’s not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Wear cloth face coverings in public, when social distancing is difficult
Published May 06, 2020
