News & Events

With state and local restrictions lifting, many business owners are making the decision to reopen their doors to remain financially stable, even as they evaluate the risks of providing services for clients during a pandemic. Knowing the dangers of the coronavirus, owners must do everything they can to protect their businesses, which may include asking customers to sign a COVID-19 liability waiver prior to services being rendered. 

On June 3, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that most of Florida, exclusive of some South Florida counties, would enter Phase 2 of the Re-Open Florida Task Force’s Plan for Florida’s Recovery. Phase 2 permits restaurants to open at 50% capacity indoors exclusive of employees.  For the first time, bars, defined as “any licensee authorized to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises that derive more than 50% of its gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages” may open and operate at 50% capacity indoors with bar areas to be open with seated service. The re-opening provision does not apply to nightclubs, which must remain closed.  Both restaurants and bars may open outdoor seating, the only limitation being with “appropriate social distancing.” Executive Order 20-68 modified earlier Executive Orders and took effect on June 5, 2020.