Hair salons, nail salons and barbershops, which were originally not allowed to reopen under the governor’s phase one plan of reopening the state, will now be able to start accepting customers once again on Monday.
Here’s a major announcement from my friend J Henry, owner of J Henry’s Barber Shop in downtown Orlando. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KnXFaMRVns
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 8, 2020
Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Friday that the aforementioned facilities will be allowed to reopen on Monday “with enhanced safety protocols for all counties currently in Phase One”.
The protocols include the wearing of masks by all employees, a ban on group appointments and the removal of unnecessary items that are frequently touched, like magazines and newspapers. View the complete list of guidelines here.
DeSantis also announced that as of Monday, Palm Beach County, which was previously excluded, will be included in the Phase One reopening. Miami-Dade and Broward Counties are still excluded.
Palm Beach County will join 64 other Florida counties, with restaurants and many retailers allowed to open up to 25% capacity and restrictions on elective surgery and routine dental care lifted.
“We think that they’re ready for it,” DeSantis said, during a visit to a testing site at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach. “I think the people here are very smart. We all understand the responsibility we have to protect the vulnerable populations here.” According to DeSantis, the county’s rate of positive test results has fallen from about 18% two weeks ago, to 9.3% on Friday.
The Palm Beach County Commission requested inclusion earlier this week, in a letter to DeSantis. The commission has also agreed to reopen county beaches May 18.
With the entire state now confirming over 38,000 COVID-19 cases, Broward County has surpassed Palm Beach County in the number of cases. The three leading states are (as of May 9) : Miami-Dade – 11,570, Broward County – 4,794 and Palm Beach County – 2,763.
