As some Florida retail stores and restaurants reopened in phase one of the economic restart from COVID-19, businesses like hair salons and barbershops remain closed by state order.
At his virtual news conference May 4, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said he spoke with Gov. Ron DeSantis over the weekend about moving quickly to lift some restrictions on the personal services sector.
The order keeps movie theaters, bars, gyms and personal service businesses, which require close contact between customers and employees, closed.
“I understand these businesses need to get back to work,” Curry said.
DeSantis held a roundtable May 2 with barbershop and hair salon owners at OhSoooJazzy Hair Salon in Orlando for industry input on how to reopen and protect the health of employees and customers.
“(DeSantis) is consulting with health care professionals in working toward the goal to be able to safely reopen those businesses. When he gets to that point, he will lift that order and we will follow, obviously, the governor’s lead,” Curry said.
Curry to nonessential workers: “Be safe”
Curry said owners who still are concerned about safety or their ability to implement the reopening guidelines can stay closed.
“If a restaurant owner personally doesn’t feel comfortable opening at this point, obviously, it’s a free country. They shouldn’t open if they’re not comfortable with it,” Curry said.
Curry said his family would not be dining out May 4, but he said that’s not because of health and safety concerns. He urged seniors and populations at-risk to the virus to continue to practice self-isolation.
“I have no problem going to a restaurant and dining. I’m sure we will in the near term. I’m sure we won’t tonight because we have a refrigerator full of food, and my wife asked me this morning what I wanted for dinner tonight,” Curry said. “But, I’m perfectly comfortable with going, and I’m sure we will be going in short order.”
Keep working from home
Curry reminded businesses that office workers, professionals and companies that can operate remotely must continue working from home during the phase one reopening.
Curry said he is considering repealing his executive order “daily,” but the mandate will remain in place for now.
“I do foresee us getting to a point where the order is lifted and the recommendation is to work from home if they can,” Curry said. “And businesses that I’ve talked to largely will do that. They want to do that for their employees.”
Curry issued the order March 24 requiring Duval County businesses to provide remote working accommodations to employees, 11 days after the mayor declared a local state of emergency because of COVID-19.
“If we continue to act responsibly and follow the restrictions and guidance in place, I’m confident we’ll move forward to phase two quickly,” Curry said.