Florida, Tennessee Wisconsin Allow More Sectors to Reopen Wednesday

Several more states will reopen sections of their economies and other closed services on Wednesday as more local governments lift restrictions that have been in place now for weeks.

Tennessee and Wisconsin will permit more businesses to open after first easing restrictions on some non-essential businesses over the last several days.

Tennessee retailers will be allowed to open their doors Wednesday, but must limit traffic to 50 percent capacity. Restaurants in the state were allowed to operate under the same conditions under an order signed by Gov. Bill Lee on Friday.

The state has also issued new guidance that says restaurant and retail workers should wear face coverings and businesses should follow hygiene and workplace sanitation standards.

“Tennessee has taken an unprecedented economic hit with families and small businesses feeling the most pain,” Lee said. “We must stay vigilant as a state, continue practicing social distancing and engage in best practices at our businesses so that we can stay open.”

In Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers signed an Emergency Order allowing non-essential businesses — including pet groomers, upholstery businesses, outdoor recreational rentals and automatic or self-service car washes — to reopen to curbside services.

Gov. Tony Evers today signed Executive Order #56 declaring an energy emergency in the state of Wisconsin https://t.co/EYqXXnWJDl

— WEAU 13 News (@WEAU13News) October 30, 2019

“This order means that every business across our state can do things like deliveries, mailings, curbside pick-up and drop-off and it's an important step in making sure that while folks are staying safer at home, they can also continue to support small businesses across our state,” Evers said.

Wisconsin had previously allowed golf courses and construction and landscaping businesses to operate, as well as curbside service at other businesses like libraries and other local stores that allow sales online or by phone.

Wisconsin parks are scheduled to reopen on Friday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, will make an announcement Wednesday to share his plans for reopening the state. His statewide stay-home order is set to expire Thursday, unless it's extended.

“Obviously we've been thinking about what we need to do and so we'll announce it [Wednesday] about the next step,” DeSantis said.

South Florida's three major counties — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — will reopen parks, marinas, waterways and golf courses on Wednesday. Some pools will also reopen. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Broward Mayor Dale Holness announced to move earlier this week.

Beaches and non-essential workplaces in those three counties, however, will remain closed and social distancing measures will remain in place. Additional restrictions will require boats to remain 50 feet apart and golfers to go onto the courses in their own carts, without caddies.

“The parks, waterways and golf courses will be used in limited ways that require everyone to take personal responsibility and act as if they have the coronavirus,” Gimenez said.

The first beaches in southwestern Florida reopened this week, joining others across the state that had reopened. Manatee County, on the central Gulf coast, plans to reopen its beaches on Monday. Like many others in the state, Manatee County will enforce distancing measures on its beaches and limit visitors to two hours at a time.

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