FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Floridians can begin returning to their favorite gyms for healthy workouts starting Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday.
Residents have been limited to home equipment and outdoor walks as fitness centers have been closed for the past two months because of coronavirus shutdown orders.
Stressing the importance of exercise, the governor said it is safe for people to hit the treadmill with appropriate social distancing and sanitizing measures. It's part of what he called a "full phase one" that includes increasing restaurant and store capacities from 25% to 50% statewide.
"Don't we want people to be getting exercise?" DeSantis said during a visit to Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside Hospital Clinic Building in Jacksonville. "Don't we want people to be getting in shape?"
The plan for restaurants and stores matches a new plan and timetable for Broward and Miami-Dade counties, which was announced a day earlier. That is also effective Monday.
Recent trends in declining numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths prompted the latest reopening targets, DeSantis said Friday.
"I think that this is appropriate given the progress Florida has made," he said. "I think it can be done safely."
"We were doing retail in some form or another this whole time. You had Home Depot open, you have Walmart, you have all these places open, so there's not a whole lot of difference to me between going into a Home Depot and going into a Jo-Ann Fabric or some of these other places," DeSantis said.
Museums and libraries are also welcome to reopen at partial capacities, but that's a decision for local authorities.
Broward County officials did not immediately comment whether their libraries _ which have stayed open for staff only _ would open to the public. But officials for the Oakland Park city-run library said it was too early and would not open Monday.
"The reopening of businesses is an economic lifeline to business owners, employees and to the broader economic viability of our community," said Oakland Park City Manager David Hebert. "Library service is a convenience that for the most part can continue to be offered remotely."
And because programming is the biggest attraction to the Parkland city-run library _ like book discussion groups and children's story time _ which isn't possible because of group gatherings, the city decided instead to add two extra days to its curbside pickup service.
"We'll monitor moving forward," said city spokesman Todd DeAngelis.
Tamarac's city-run gym will also stay closed for now, according to a city spokeswoman.
"We are continuing to make the needed operational changes along with developing new procedures for both residents and staff," said spokeswoman Elise Boston. "Once we feel the facility and operations are in place to provide a safe environment for both patrons and staff, we will open."
Indoor movie theaters will continue to be closed across the state, because of the higher danger of the virus spreading in enclosed spaces, he noted.
In another announcement about restarting the economy, DeSantis said amusement parks are welcome to submit detailed plans about reopening with protections for staff and guests.
