Florida is in Phase 1 of reopening from coronavirus-related shutdowns. That means many restaurants, retail stores, and salons are beginning to unshutter in the Sunshine State, although hard-hit areas still have to wait, including two of the most populous counties: Miami-Dade and Broward.

Broward County Mayor Dale V.C. Holness told Cheddar Monday many of the counties in South Florida have been working together to decide on a reopening date for their communities. 

“We are one region. If you drive through South Florida, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach, you won’t know when you leave one area from the other. So, we are very intertwined commercially,” said Holness. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for reopening include routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and an increase in testing for COVID-19. Mayor Holness said they have been able to test more people and are also trying to make antibody tests available.

“We are working to get antibody testing up this week. Hopefully we can get that done. So, long as we get some tests from the governor of the state of Florida, which is pledged to us, about 5,000 tests,” he said. “So, we can do that to identify those who may have already had it.” 

Even once the counties reopen, the mayor emphasized they will continue to enforce social distancing, occupancy levels within businesses, and the wearing of face masks so that once sites reopen they can stay open, safely. 

“We don’t want to open and then have to close again. That would be disastrous for businesses. We want to make sure when we open we do it in a phased way,” Holness said. 

He advised businesses to follow CDC guidelines, even if it slows the process of recouping losses from the weeks they were closed.

“My advice to them is to follow the protocols that were set, ensure that there is distancing in the businesses, don’t get greedy, because if you do, you may have to be closed down again and that’s not what you want to see happen," Holness warned.

Mayor Holness along with the other Broward County mayors will host a conference call at 3 P.M. today to further discuss their reopening plans. 

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