WESH 2’S GREG FOX EXPLAINS ANY
REOPENING PLAN WILL LIKELY COME
WITH TIGHT SAFETY RESTRICTIONS
AND ENFORCEMENT.
GOVERNOR DESANTIS: NO TURNING
BACK.
I MEAN, WE HAVE GOT TO GET IT
RIGHT, AND IT’S GOT TO STAY.
GREG: GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS
ASSURED A ROUNDTABLE OF BREWERY
AND BAR OWNERS IN ST. PETERSBURG
THAT HE’S VERY CLOSE TO MAKING A
DECISION THAT WILL GET THE
COUNTERTOPS AND BEER TAPS OPEN
AGAIN.
GOVERNOR DESANTIS: I WANT EVERY
BUSINESS IN FLORIDA OPERATING.
AND WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE 99%.
YOU GUYS ARE KIND OF THE LAST
ONES.
GREG: THE LAST ONES, AND THEY
MADE IT CLEAR THEY’RE HURTING
AND HAVE INVESTED PLENTY TO MAKE
THEIR BUSINESSES SAFER FROM
CORONAVIRUS.
>> WE’RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE POSSIBLY CAN TO PROVIDE A
SAFE ENVIRONMENT SO THAT PEOPLE
OF ANY MINDSET ARE GOING TO FEEL
SAFE.
GREG: AND THE ONES RUNNING
RESTAURANTS SAY THEY’RE SEEING
MORE CUSTOMERS, INDICATING
THEY’RE READY FOR BARS TO
REOPEN.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A
CONFIDENCE IN THE CONSUMERS, AND
THOSE DECISIONS ARE REALLY BEING
MADE ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL.
>> PHASE THREE CANNOT COME SOON
ENOUGH.
GREG: THE MANAGER OF THE WINE
ROOM ON PARK AVENUE IN WINTER
PARK WAS DISAPPOINTED THE
GOVERNOR DID NOT ANNOUNCE A
REOPENING DATE FOR BARS.
THEY’RE BARELY GETTING BY WITH
OUTSIDE SEATING AND 50% CAPACITY
INSIDE FOR DINING.
BUT WITH THE BAR CLOSED,
CUSTOMER TRAFFIC IS DOWN.
SHE’S HOPING THE GOVERNOR WILL
LET BARS REOPEN IN TIME FOR
LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
>> I’M HOPING IT WILL BE A
POSITIVE WEEKEND FOR EVERYBODY.
LAST TIME WE HAD THE MEMORIAL
DAY WEEKEND AND THEN WE HAD A
BIG SPIKE AND STUFF, SO THINGS
WENT THE WRONG DIRECTION.
BUT IF HE SAYS WE’RE NOT GOING
TO GO BACK, I’M GOT MY FINGERS
CROSSED THAT THIS ONE WILL BE A
POSITIVE ONE WHERE EVERYBODY
PLAYS NICE AND THAT WE CAN GET
BACK TO NORMAL.
GREG: EXACTLY WHAT NORMAL LOOK
LIKE WHEN BARS REOPEN IS
SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR ISN’T
TALKING ABOUT JUST YET, BUT IT’S
GUARANTEED TO COME WITH
ENFORCEMENT OF COVID-19 RULES
FOR EVERYONE’S SA
