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All Florida Bars and Nightclubs to Close for at least 30 Days

Posted at 2:00 PM, Mar 17, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-17 14:00:48-04

Governor Ron DeSantis announced in a press conference on Tuesday that all Florida bars and nightclubs will close for at least 30 days amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

The total number of cases in the state has reached 173, including four students at the University of Florida.

DeSantis said he and others looked at the plan that President Trump announced regarding social distancing to make their plan for Florida.

Several students have remained on campuses of colleges and universities through out the state regardless of Spring Break extensions and two week break. These students have also continued going out to bars and nightclubs, DeSantis said.

"Looking at the CDC guidelines, we don't want large groups of people congregating right now. We want to have enough isolation so that the virus has a hard time spreading throughout the community," he said.

DeSantis also spoke about asking colleges and universities to continue remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester.

Other things mentioned in the conference were keeping dine-in restaurants at 50% occupancy, staggering seating, seating parties at least 6 feet apart, and having restaurants screening all employees fir the virus.

This plan will be the basis for the state which allows local governments to take further measures if they deem necessary.