Florida bars and restaurants that violate the state’s social distancing guidelines now risk losing their liquor licenses.
That’s according to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who made the announcement at a news conference Tuesday in Orlando.
“If you go in and it’s just like mayhem, like dance party USA and it’s packed to the rafters, that’s just cut and dry. That’s not just an innocent mistake,” DeSantis said.
The governor said businesses that are clearly out of compliance with state rules can count on a visit from Department of Business and Professional Regulations Secretary Halsey Beshears, whom DeSantis called “the grim reaper for business licenses.”
“There’s not going to be any tolerance for it,” DeSantis said.
Beshears’ office made an example this week out of The Knight’s Pub in Orlando, suspending the establishment’s liquor license. In Florida, which has a quota on the number of licenses it hands out, that’s a stiff punishment for any bar.
The office justified the suspension by noting the bar had repeatedly flouted social distancing rules, packing the bar with patrons despite the pandemic. More than 40 employees and patrons caught the disease after frequenting the bar, according to local media reports.
DeSantis has ordered that restaurants and bars can operate at 50 percent capacity indoors.
At the news conference, the Republican governor continued to defend Florida’s handling of the coronavirus, noting the state’s recent surge in cases can largely be attributed to more infections among a younger population that’s less at risk for serious health outcomes.
“What we’ve seen, particularly over the last week, is a real explosion in new cases amongst our younger demographics,” DeSantis said. Later, he added, “I’m less concerned about the number of cases.”
DeSantis said that older Floridians have been more careful than younger ones when venturing in public.
Dr. Sunil Desai, the president of Orlando Health Medical Group, who joined the governor at the news conference, agreed that the surge in recent cases can be attributed more to changes in social behavior than reopened businesses.
This is breaking news. Stay tuned for updates.
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